Bus routes trimmed due to low budget

One route cut, another curtailed

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008

Starting Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, the Prince Frederick 2 bus will be canceled, and one of two buses assigned to the Prince Frederick-Solomons route will be removed, according to Transportation Supervisor Sandy Wobbleton. The revised schedule for the Solomons route was not available by press time but Wobbleton expected it to be completed by today, Dec. 5.

The change, proposed by the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, stems from a recent 16-percent reduction in Maryland Transit Administration support for the service, according to a release.

The cuts were chosen to avoid eliminating service to any area, Wobbleton said, though wait times on the affected routes will be longer.

"We looked at the system as a whole, and what we took out was the runs that were not going to actually cut service to any areas. The runs we took out where what we call ‘frequency runs' so that even though we took those out, they're still served by buses."

The county is advising riders of the change via newspapers, posters and fliers distributed by bus drivers, she said.

"We understand it's going to be hard on them," Wobbleton said of bus riders. "We're trying to work with them as much as we want them to work with us and find a way to get through this."

Calvert County NAACP President Joyce Freeland, who spearheaded successful efforts to reinstate a canceled Prince Frederick bus stop earlier this year, said "This is not good news" upon learning of the changes from a reporter. "I'm not sure how these people are supposed to get around now. … The people who are going to be affected are those who need it the most. I'm just sorry to learn this and I'm sure the people who ride those buses are going to be quite upset. … We're in terrible economic times and, unfortunately, the people who need the help the most are the first ones who get slashed out, it seems."

Freeland said she would seek meetings with county staff to try to avert the change.

Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D), who has championed the system in the past, said she was dismayed by the turn of events but that the cuts are necessary.

"It's just going to mean they're going to have to cut back on them, but nobody will be left out. That's what I was really concerned about. Until we get more money from the state I don't know what more we can do. And they've gone through everything [in the budget]. I'm disappointed but I'm at least pleased that they have worked that closely with it down in transportation," she said.

emitrano@somdnews.com