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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 25, 2006
Carr Calls for Increased Investment in MARC & Metro
... Calls Attention to the State's Broken Promises
State ignored input from riders and affected communities
Carr calls for expansion of MARC and Metro service
Kensington, Maryland - Aug 25, 2006
Kensington Councilman Al Carr is calling for the State to increase investment in
commuter rail service and other forms of transit. He is also calling for greater
transparency in state transportation decisions. Carr joined with County Council
member Nancy Floreen, the Mayors of Kensington and Garrett Park and other
officials and activists at the Kensington MARC train station to highlight the need for
change.
"We learned this week that the MTA, under Ehrlich and Flanagan, violated the
state sunshine laws by preventing full transparency of the MARC advisory
committee," said Carr. Boyds resident and MARC rider Miriam Schoenbaum, who
stood with Carr, had filed a complaint and the Attorney General's office ruled in her
favor.
"Unfortunately this is just the latest example where the administration has let the
public down on transit," said Carr. As reported in the Washington Post, Ehrlich
made a campaign promise in 2001 to expand rail transit service. But instead, the
administration has cut service and has made decisions with little input from riders
or affected communities. The MTA under Flanagan and Ehrlich first cut MARC
service in 2003. "They never contacted Kensington officials or asked for our input
when they cut the evening train," Said Carr. The MTA has raised MARC fares and
proposed cutting MARC service again in late 2005. However, a group of citizens
and elected officials fought back and won.
The MTA tried to eliminate two stations over the objections of the local community
and using questionable savings figures as justification.
Carr has been a leading voice for reforming transit policies
Carr Calls for Increased Investment in MARC & Metro
... Calls Attention to the State's Broken Promises
State ignored input from riders and affected communities
Carr calls for expansion of MARC and Metro service
Kensington, Maryland - Aug 25, 2006
Kensington Councilman Al Carr is calling for the State to increase investment in
commuter rail service and other forms of transit. He is also calling for greater
transparency in state transportation decisions. Carr joined with County Council
member Nancy Floreen, the Mayors of Kensington and Garrett Park and other
officials and activists at the Kensington MARC train station to highlight the need for
change.
"We learned this week that the MTA, under Ehrlich and Flanagan, violated the
state sunshine laws by preventing full transparency of the MARC advisory
committee," said Carr. Boyds resident and MARC rider Miriam Schoenbaum, who
stood with Carr, had filed a complaint and the Attorney General's office ruled in her
favor.
"Unfortunately this is just the latest example where the administration has let the
public down on transit," said Carr. As reported in the Washington Post, Ehrlich
made a campaign promise in 2001 to expand rail transit service. But instead, the
administration has cut service and has made decisions with little input from riders
or affected communities. The MTA under Flanagan and Ehrlich first cut MARC
service in 2003. "They never contacted Kensington officials or asked for our input
when they cut the evening train," Said Carr. The MTA has raised MARC fares and
proposed cutting MARC service again in late 2005. However, a group of citizens
and elected officials fought back and won.
The MTA tried to eliminate two stations over the objections of the local community
and using questionable savings figures as justification.
Carr has been a leading voice for reforming transit policies
Garagiola, Delegate Jean Cryor and others led the fight in the state house.
County executive Doug Duncan and County Council members Knapp and Floreen
and others led county efforts. Former Mayor Lynn Raufaste of Kensington, Mayor
Carolyn Shawaker of Garrett Park and other municipal officials along the
Brunswick line helped fight the closures. The Sierra Club and Action Committee for
Transit participated as well. The MTA ultimately backed down and postponed the
closures while forming an advisory committee to study the issue in further detail.
Several citizens were concerned with the makeup of the advisory committee and
the process they were following and went to Councilman Carr for advice. Carr
worked with Ms. Schoenbaum to help her demand transparency by filing an open
meetings act complaint.
Carr's vision for rail transit improvements in Maryland and the region includes the
following:
MARC Train Service Improvements to reduce trip times, eliminate transfers at
crowded metro stations, provide redundancy to Metro and take cars off of
Connecticut Avenue, Jones Mill and Beach Drive:
Metro Service Improvements to increase pedestrian safety, ridership and
reduce trip times:
"Our regional rail network is the envy of many other metropolitan areas and we are
not even coming close to the potential." said Carr. Studies by the MTA and the
Greater Washington Board of Trade have shown that rail network service capacity
could be greatly expanded with only modest investments.
"Gas prices are up. Congestion is up. The citizens of Maryland want real
transportation choices."
# # #
Click here to learn more about Al Carr's vision and proven record of leadership
and results
Al Carr - Democrat for Maryland House of Delegates in District 18
Al Carr is a proven leader who focuses on community needs and delivers on his
promises.
Experience Counts!
Vote on September 12th
Website: http://www.alcarr.org
contact:
John Doherty
Director of Media Relations
email: acarr@aol.com
phone: 301 949-3482
County executive Doug Duncan and County Council members Knapp and Floreen
and others led county efforts. Former Mayor Lynn Raufaste of Kensington, Mayor
Carolyn Shawaker of Garrett Park and other municipal officials along the
Brunswick line helped fight the closures. The Sierra Club and Action Committee for
Transit participated as well. The MTA ultimately backed down and postponed the
closures while forming an advisory committee to study the issue in further detail.
Several citizens were concerned with the makeup of the advisory committee and
the process they were following and went to Councilman Carr for advice. Carr
worked with Ms. Schoenbaum to help her demand transparency by filing an open
meetings act complaint.
Carr's vision for rail transit improvements in Maryland and the region includes the
following:
MARC Train Service Improvements to reduce trip times, eliminate transfers at
crowded metro stations, provide redundancy to Metro and take cars off of
Connecticut Avenue, Jones Mill and Beach Drive:
- Reforming state oversight of MARC
- Greater input on decisions for affected communities
- More reliable service
- More frequent service
- Reverse Commute service
- Weekend service
- Run-through service between Maryland and Virginia
- Added infill stations at Shady Grove, Randolph, West Silver Spring and Fort
Totten - Relocation of the Amtrak main line at BWI Marshall Airport to enable MARC
and Amtrak service directly at the air terminal and eliminate bus transfers - Greater funding for pedestrian and bicycle improvements near stations
Metro Service Improvements to increase pedestrian safety, ridership and
reduce trip times:
- Dedicated Funding Source
- Extend all red line trains past Silver Spring to Forest Glen, Wheaton and
Glenmont - Build a pedestrian tunnel at Forest Glen
- Build an east-west purple line between Bethesda and Silver Spring that
uses the same trains as metro and travels deep underground in residential
areas
"Our regional rail network is the envy of many other metropolitan areas and we are
not even coming close to the potential." said Carr. Studies by the MTA and the
Greater Washington Board of Trade have shown that rail network service capacity
could be greatly expanded with only modest investments.
"Gas prices are up. Congestion is up. The citizens of Maryland want real
transportation choices."
# # #
Click here to learn more about Al Carr's vision and proven record of leadership
and results
Al Carr - Democrat for Maryland House of Delegates in District 18
Al Carr is a proven leader who focuses on community needs and delivers on his
promises.
Experience Counts!
Vote on September 12th
Website: http://www.alcarr.org
contact:
John Doherty
Director of Media Relations
email: acarr@aol.com
phone: 301 949-3482
By Authority of Friends of Alfred Carr, Mark F. Rubin, Treasurer
Honorable William Sher, Chair Marlene Cohn, Honorary co-chair
copyright © 2006 Friends of Alfred Carr. All rights reserved.
Honorable William Sher, Chair Marlene Cohn, Honorary co-chair
copyright © 2006 Friends of Alfred Carr. All rights reserved.
| Experience Counts! |
Councilman Carr has advocated balanced
transportation policies with greater investment in
rail. He has been an active member of the National
Association of Railroad Passengers for over a
decade and has worked with other elected officials,
business groups, environmental groups,
transportation groups and citizens groups to lobby
for commuter rail transit improvements and to fight
service cuts. He founded an online regional
commuter rail advocacy forum several years ago
and his advocacy has been published in the
Washington Post. Carr also worked with fellow
Kensington and County officials to develop plans
for increased parking and improved pedestrian
safety at the Kensington MARC station.
Carr helped build the coalition that successfully
fought the MARC station cuts. Senator Rob
transportation policies with greater investment in
rail. He has been an active member of the National
Association of Railroad Passengers for over a
decade and has worked with other elected officials,
business groups, environmental groups,
transportation groups and citizens groups to lobby
for commuter rail transit improvements and to fight
service cuts. He founded an online regional
commuter rail advocacy forum several years ago
and his advocacy has been published in the
Washington Post. Carr also worked with fellow
Kensington and County officials to develop plans
for increased parking and improved pedestrian
safety at the Kensington MARC station.
Carr helped build the coalition that successfully
fought the MARC station cuts. Senator Rob