Train commuters: This is the week your voice may be heard!
You can tell MARC what you think electronically today. I just received this email from MTA:
MARC is conducting its periodic Customer Satisfaction Survey. This is our way to gauge how we are doing … to identify what’s working well and where we need to improve. We also take this opportunity to try to understand more about our customers and to ask about recent or proposed initiatives.
If you would like to take the survey, please click on the link below. The survey will be available at this link through July 31st.
http://survey.confirmit.com/wix/p678716001.aspx
And don't forget tomorrow, July 22, you can tell MARC officials IN PERSON what you think. MARC officials will supposedly be soliciting our feedback about a new parking lot plan from 4ish to 7 or 8ish at the Grove Presbyterian Church Hall at 50 E. Bel Air Ave. Ironic for a bunch of people who are supposed to be running a train organization, but they can't seem to give a consistent message of when the meeting will start or when it will end. But please do try to show up. They need to hear what real commuters really need from them.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Could MARC be wising up?
Could someone at MARC have finally taken a look at their own schedule and altered the Aberdeen parking improvement meeting hours so that their customers might actually be able to attend?
It's possible!
Pat, "the queen of Aberdeen," just forwarded a message from the MTA :
(I've highlighted the important part):
Meet The MARC Managers at Aberdeen Open House For Parking Expansion
Project
MARC officials will set up a "Meet The MARC Managers" table at the MTA
community open house in Aberdeen on July 22, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:30
p.m. regarding the proposed parking expansion at the Aberdeen MARC Train
Station. The Open House will be held at the Grove Presbyterian Church
Hall, 50 East Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, MD, and NOT at the MARC Station.
The Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion project will include
construction of additional surface parking to complement existing
station parking. The construction of the parking facilities will
provide approximately 165 new parking spaces. The project will also
include pedestrian access improvements, lighting, storm water management
and landscaping. Attendees will be able to view conceptual project
plans, and discuss any concerns with MTA representatives.
I haven't called to verify the hours of the meeting. The email I received last week said 4 to 7. And the ad in the Havre De Grace Record said 4:30 to 7 p.m. In last week's posting on this subject, I concluded that by having such an early ending to the meeting, MARC officials were either ignorant of their own schedules, or didn't didn't want commuters to attend the meeting. As I noted last week, the only northbound trains that would get a commuter to Aberdeen before 7 would require a very early departure from work. Most of the most popular trains drop commuters off at Aberdeen much later than 7. (Typically, for example, about 50 people board the Amtrak that leaves DC at 7:10 and is supposed to pull into Aberdeen at 8:14)
But if Pat's information is correct, we commuters should give two cheers for MARC officials:
1) They are at least talking about doing something about the parking crunch.
2) They appear to have altered their schedule to accomodate us - their customers!
That's great, MARC! Thanks!
:-D
But we shouldn't rest now. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance!
1) It would still probably be even better if they held a meeting in the train station from say, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 in the a.m. to really catch more affected commuters.
2) We should carefully scrutinize and question the plan they are proposing. What would be the cheapest, fastest solution to the parking crunch? What would be the best long-term solution? Is there a way to consider and weigh the net carbon impact of the various alternatives?
I hope you'll all attend and thank the MARC officials for responding to our concerns, but voice your own ideas about how to make train commuting more successful!
It's possible!
Pat, "the queen of Aberdeen," just forwarded a message from the MTA :
(I've highlighted the important part):
Meet The MARC Managers at Aberdeen Open House For Parking Expansion
Project
MARC officials will set up a "Meet The MARC Managers" table at the MTA
community open house in Aberdeen on July 22, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:30
p.m. regarding the proposed parking expansion at the Aberdeen MARC Train
Station. The Open House will be held at the Grove Presbyterian Church
Hall, 50 East Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, MD, and NOT at the MARC Station.
The Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion project will include
construction of additional surface parking to complement existing
station parking. The construction of the parking facilities will
provide approximately 165 new parking spaces. The project will also
include pedestrian access improvements, lighting, storm water management
and landscaping. Attendees will be able to view conceptual project
plans, and discuss any concerns with MTA representatives.
I haven't called to verify the hours of the meeting. The email I received last week said 4 to 7. And the ad in the Havre De Grace Record said 4:30 to 7 p.m. In last week's posting on this subject, I concluded that by having such an early ending to the meeting, MARC officials were either ignorant of their own schedules, or didn't didn't want commuters to attend the meeting. As I noted last week, the only northbound trains that would get a commuter to Aberdeen before 7 would require a very early departure from work. Most of the most popular trains drop commuters off at Aberdeen much later than 7. (Typically, for example, about 50 people board the Amtrak that leaves DC at 7:10 and is supposed to pull into Aberdeen at 8:14)
But if Pat's information is correct, we commuters should give two cheers for MARC officials:
1) They are at least talking about doing something about the parking crunch.
2) They appear to have altered their schedule to accomodate us - their customers!
That's great, MARC! Thanks!
:-D
But we shouldn't rest now. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance!
1) It would still probably be even better if they held a meeting in the train station from say, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 in the a.m. to really catch more affected commuters.
2) We should carefully scrutinize and question the plan they are proposing. What would be the cheapest, fastest solution to the parking crunch? What would be the best long-term solution? Is there a way to consider and weigh the net carbon impact of the various alternatives?
I hope you'll all attend and thank the MARC officials for responding to our concerns, but voice your own ideas about how to make train commuting more successful!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
GREAT, EXCITING NEWS?!?!? EXCEPT...
Wow! We're finally getting some action!!!!!!!
The MTA has announced plans to increase parking facilities in Aberdeen!!!
I just received this email:
Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion Project Open House
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will host a community open house in Aberdeen on July 22, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. regarding the proposed expansion of the Aberdeen MARC Train Station. It will be held at the Grove Presbyterian Church Hall, 50 East Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, MD.
The Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion project will include construction of additional surface parking to complement existing station parking. The construction of the parking facilities will provide approximately 165 new parking spaces. The project will also include pedestrian access improvements, lighting, storm water management and landscaping. Attendees will be able to view conceptual project plans, and discuss any concerns with MTA representatives.
So does anybody see a problem with this?
I do!
1) The timing: the open house will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on a Tuesday. Hmmm. How many of us can get home in time for that?
People who work in Washington would have to catch either the 3:05 Amtrak or 4:24 Marc train to make it. And that means leaving work kind of early for many of us. (It would be easier for Baltimore workers, who could catch the 3:49 Amtrak or the 5:14 Marc train. ) The timing of this event reflects, to me, the lack of understanding MTA has about its customers. Or maybe they don't want a lot of us to show up to the event? If they really wanted to find out what real commuters thought, they should schedule it later, so that people who arrive on the last Amtrak (at about 8:15) could attend. Or they could schedule it in the morning in the station, say from 6 a.m.to 8:30 a.m. so that we could hear about it while we wait for the train.
2) The lack of alternatives: Listen, I'm THRILLED that the MTA is finally taking action, but I'm concerned that they may be simply imposing the same old tired "solutions" without considering better, faster, cheaper alternatives. A bigger lot may, in fact, be the best solution. But given today's reality of $4 gasoline, have they even considered alternatives such as rewards for carpooling or ridesharing to reduce the number of parked cars? How about some sort of public transportation to the train station from various population centers such as Bel Air, Havre de Grace or Churchville? How about extending the line northward to serve the dozens of people who drive south to catch the Aberdeen or Perryville trains? How about a safe place in the station (such as that big empty storeroom area) to store bicycles or scooters? I'm sure our commuters have many alternative ideas that could save money, solve the crunch quickly, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, etc., etc., How about it?
The MTA has announced plans to increase parking facilities in Aberdeen!!!
I just received this email:
Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion Project Open House
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will host a community open house in Aberdeen on July 22, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. regarding the proposed expansion of the Aberdeen MARC Train Station. It will be held at the Grove Presbyterian Church Hall, 50 East Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, MD.
The Aberdeen MARC Station Parking Expansion project will include construction of additional surface parking to complement existing station parking. The construction of the parking facilities will provide approximately 165 new parking spaces. The project will also include pedestrian access improvements, lighting, storm water management and landscaping. Attendees will be able to view conceptual project plans, and discuss any concerns with MTA representatives.
So does anybody see a problem with this?
I do!
1) The timing: the open house will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on a Tuesday. Hmmm. How many of us can get home in time for that?
People who work in Washington would have to catch either the 3:05 Amtrak or 4:24 Marc train to make it. And that means leaving work kind of early for many of us. (It would be easier for Baltimore workers, who could catch the 3:49 Amtrak or the 5:14 Marc train. ) The timing of this event reflects, to me, the lack of understanding MTA has about its customers. Or maybe they don't want a lot of us to show up to the event? If they really wanted to find out what real commuters thought, they should schedule it later, so that people who arrive on the last Amtrak (at about 8:15) could attend. Or they could schedule it in the morning in the station, say from 6 a.m.to 8:30 a.m. so that we could hear about it while we wait for the train.
2) The lack of alternatives: Listen, I'm THRILLED that the MTA is finally taking action, but I'm concerned that they may be simply imposing the same old tired "solutions" without considering better, faster, cheaper alternatives. A bigger lot may, in fact, be the best solution. But given today's reality of $4 gasoline, have they even considered alternatives such as rewards for carpooling or ridesharing to reduce the number of parked cars? How about some sort of public transportation to the train station from various population centers such as Bel Air, Havre de Grace or Churchville? How about extending the line northward to serve the dozens of people who drive south to catch the Aberdeen or Perryville trains? How about a safe place in the station (such as that big empty storeroom area) to store bicycles or scooters? I'm sure our commuters have many alternative ideas that could save money, solve the crunch quickly, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, etc., etc., How about it?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Baltimore Sun's excellent article on commuter woes
Mike Dresser, a veteran reporter for the Baltimore Sun, (there are fewer of these around nowadays, unfortunately) just wrote an excellent story about the problems facing commuters. You can read it here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/bal-te.md.parking26jun26,0,6903345.story?page=1.
Thanks to all the commuters who talked to Mike. The only way we're going to get any kind of improvement is if we all raise our voices and take actions to force our public officials to finally actually do something. It's been almost 6 months since the mayor and county executive visited us and promised improvements. Maybe I've missed them? Maybe somebody can point out to me a single change for the better?
Thanks to all the commuters who talked to Mike. The only way we're going to get any kind of improvement is if we all raise our voices and take actions to force our public officials to finally actually do something. It's been almost 6 months since the mayor and county executive visited us and promised improvements. Maybe I've missed them? Maybe somebody can point out to me a single change for the better?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Putrid, unhealthy and scary
I just wanted to document here that the tunnel that the commuters use to cross under the railroad tracks was especially disgusting last week. It's obviously being used as a toilet by some desperate souls or miscreants. True, commuters do have the choice of avoiding the sewage by taking the long walk up and over the pedestrian bridge, but some rather unsavory looking characters have been hanging out on that walkway. At least the tunnel is short, and there's usually at least one or two other commuters there as witnesses in case of trouble. So we have a choice of trying to hold our breaths and walking through sewage for half a minute or hoping that those people hanging around the walkway and adjoining gas station are simply friendly stargazers or birdwatchers, and not the opportunistic robbers who threatened to prey on the commuter who broke her leg last month.
We commuters need to know: who is in charge of cleaning that tunnel? How often is it cleaned? Can't that security camera be used to catch the people who are fouling the tunnel? What kind of health hazard does breathing that sewage pose?
Mayor Bennett, County Executive Craig, Secretary Porcari, Administrator Wiedefeld: I dare you to take one minute out of your busy days and take just four deep breaths in that tunnel, and then keep ignoring the problems we face every day.
We commuters need to know: who is in charge of cleaning that tunnel? How often is it cleaned? Can't that security camera be used to catch the people who are fouling the tunnel? What kind of health hazard does breathing that sewage pose?
Mayor Bennett, County Executive Craig, Secretary Porcari, Administrator Wiedefeld: I dare you to take one minute out of your busy days and take just four deep breaths in that tunnel, and then keep ignoring the problems we face every day.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Aberdeen commuter's nightmare - broken leg and robber
One of our regular commuters has just experienced the kind of nightmare we've all feared. Two weeks ago, she had to park on the northbound side because of the lack of parking. At 8:30 in the morning on a Thursday in late May, she was walking to the disgusting-smelling tunnel. Unfortunately, she slipped and broke her ankle. She was wearing flat, comfortable shoes. The problem, she says, was a hidden hole in the berm between the asphalt and the grass. She lay there in pain so severe she felt nauseous. She felt so woozy she couldn't call out. And because she was laying down, none of the commuters on the other side could have seen her. She estimates seven minutes went by. Then, one of the scary people who've been hanging out around the train station - a woman in a dirty track suit - bent over her. Instead of asking "Can I help you," the woman opened her cell phone to call her friends for backup. The victim was positive she was about to be robbed. LUCKILY, another commuter finally walked by and saw the victim. The would-be robber ran away. And our injured commuter was helped to the hospital.
We've been agitating for more, better and safer parking for years, now. And the mayor and county executive in February promised improvements.
It is now June: Where is the improved security? Where is the expanded parking?
Now, I'll bet precious city, county, state and MARC funds will go to settle a lawsuit instead of improving the situation.
We've been agitating for more, better and safer parking for years, now. And the mayor and county executive in February promised improvements.
It is now June: Where is the improved security? Where is the expanded parking?
Now, I'll bet precious city, county, state and MARC funds will go to settle a lawsuit instead of improving the situation.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sorta good news for commuters - more timely trains?
The conductor of the southbound Amtrak train that leaves Aberdeen for Washington, DC at 8:38 a.m. (train #188) says we can expect that train to have a better on-time performance this summer. He says that an Acela train that used to cause a lot of the delays has been eliminated.
Anyone who tried to use that train to get to a job this winter and spring knows that it was late 90 percent of the time. And not just 3 minutes late - but typically 20 or 30 minutes late. That, of course, is unacceptable for commuters. Bosses usually like workers to show up on time. There's a big difference between pulling into Baltimore at 8:58 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Do the latter too often and you won't have a job to commute to any more!
So far, my experience has been that this train has improved, but is still not reliable. Wednesday, May 27, for example, it was more than 30 minutes late.
If Amtrak, MARC, and government officials want commuters to use public transportation to reduce gas usage, air pollution and road congestion, they're going to have to provide solutions that reliably address real work schedules. That's not happening yet. As it stands now, the latest train Cecil and Harford county commuters can take to make sure they arrive at work at a reasonable hour is Amtrak #151, which leaves Aberdeen at 6:58 a.m. That's right, even if you don't have to be at work in Baltimore until 9 a.m., the only train you can take to get to work on time leaves before 7 a.m. Then, in the heart of commute time, there's not another train going southbound for at least one hour and 40 minutes!!!
Let me repeat that because it it is so hard to believe "Maryland Area Regional Commute" trains would have such a commuter-unfriendly schedule. Although most jobs start around 8 or 9 in the morning, there's no southbound service between 6:58 a.m. and 8:38 a.m., and (and as we note above, that 8:38 actually ends up leaving at 9 a.m. or 9:15)! Sometimes I joke that the C in MARC doesn't stand for Commute, it stands for Crazyperson.
No wonder so many people drive!
Anyone who tried to use that train to get to a job this winter and spring knows that it was late 90 percent of the time. And not just 3 minutes late - but typically 20 or 30 minutes late. That, of course, is unacceptable for commuters. Bosses usually like workers to show up on time. There's a big difference between pulling into Baltimore at 8:58 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Do the latter too often and you won't have a job to commute to any more!
So far, my experience has been that this train has improved, but is still not reliable. Wednesday, May 27, for example, it was more than 30 minutes late.
If Amtrak, MARC, and government officials want commuters to use public transportation to reduce gas usage, air pollution and road congestion, they're going to have to provide solutions that reliably address real work schedules. That's not happening yet. As it stands now, the latest train Cecil and Harford county commuters can take to make sure they arrive at work at a reasonable hour is Amtrak #151, which leaves Aberdeen at 6:58 a.m. That's right, even if you don't have to be at work in Baltimore until 9 a.m., the only train you can take to get to work on time leaves before 7 a.m. Then, in the heart of commute time, there's not another train going southbound for at least one hour and 40 minutes!!!
Let me repeat that because it it is so hard to believe "Maryland Area Regional Commute" trains would have such a commuter-unfriendly schedule. Although most jobs start around 8 or 9 in the morning, there's no southbound service between 6:58 a.m. and 8:38 a.m., and (and as we note above, that 8:38 actually ends up leaving at 9 a.m. or 9:15)! Sometimes I joke that the C in MARC doesn't stand for Commute, it stands for Crazyperson.
No wonder so many people drive!
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