The ABC’s of the Regional Transit Operations Facility
Ray Ambros, Transit Administrator
Corridor Transportation Corporation
In an era of expanding technology – IM, iPod, iPhone, the business community and consumers alike are swimming in proverbial alphabet soup. The transportation industry is no different. Nearly six years ago the Corridor Transportation Corporation (CTC), in partnership with Howard County (HC), began an earnest search for land upon which a Transit Operations Facility (TOF) could be constructed. Then as now, the County was experiencing tremendous growth in the employment sector and its fledgling bus service, was adding new riders at a pace that far surpassed the rapid increase in its population. Meanwhile, our neighbor right next door in Anne Arundel County (AAC) was undergoing a transformation by virtue of the development of Arundel Mills Mall and the aggressive expansion plans at BWI Airport. In the case of the West Anne Arundel County (WAA), however, there was no transit service to speak of outside of a single Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus route that operated out of Baltimore and the MARC commuter train. Today, several CTC transit routes link residents from the region with employment opportunities at the Mall.
Fast forward five years later and the landscape is dramatically different, but this time the region seems poised to respond. BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) will have a dramatic impact upon the Central Maryland region. Major infrastructure changes must occur to help sustain this major economic expansion and the TOF will become an integral part of the preparation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been executed among Ft. Meade, Howard and Anne Arundel Counties to establish a framework for using Base property to construct a facility that will house transit operations and allow for the storage and maintenance of buses. A collaborative partnership of this size doesn’t just materialize. Kay Hill, NSA Director of Community Partnerships, has been the conduit in bringing the region’s leadership to the table. Kay’s spirited effort to keep the vision and momentum in play has enabled the participants to work through the challenges of MOU negotiations.
Critical in this entire process are the economies of scale and cost savings. By providing a bus facility the Counties and CTC will be able to attract a greater number of firms to bid on transit service contracts. Routinely, many of these companies could not compete for the service because they lacked an operations facility. More competition will have a beneficial effect on the pricing for services. CTC anticipates the operational savings achieved through a competitive solicitation will equal the cash outlay for the facility within five to ten years. The facility is expected to have a useful life of at least thirty years thereby completing the fiscal argument for its creation. Beyond transit operations, the TOF will also pay dividends as a passenger transfer hub.
An environmental assessment of the area currently underway, lease negotiations and the need for additional funding to complete the project all present healthy challenges. Getting two jurisdictions to agree on the development of a bi-county TOF and using Federal land in the process is a monumental accomplishment and should not go un-noticed. After a comprehensive review over a six year search with clear progress, we can all celebrate and LOL.
The Corridor Transportation Corporation (CTC) is an affiliate of the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce providing public transportation options in the greater Laurel area with bus routes to northern Prince George’s, eastern Montgomery, western Anne Arundel and southern Howard Counties. CTC also offers transit-oriented advertising opportunities for businesses. For more information on CTC and advertising options, contact Nancy Huggins at 301-725-4000 x 102 or visit www.baltwashchamber.org/transportation.cfm.
Getting Around
Amtrak:
Amtrak's Official Website has train information. The closest station to Fort Meade is the BWI Airport Rail Station
MARC Train:
Mass Transit - Visitors without a car can travel to and/from Baltimore or Washington D.C. by using the MARC train, a local commuter system available Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m., available from Fort Meade by going to the BWI Rail Station or the Odenton Station.
Visit www.mtamaryland.com for individual station hours and MARC fare and schedule information.
Airlines:
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport - Located in Anne Arundel County, visitors can arrange air travel to Fort Meade by way of Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). There are currently 19 airlines arriving and departing from BWI.
Other airports in the area include:
Dulles International Airport - Dulles, Virginia
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Washington, DC
