On January 22, representatives of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) were invited to a worksession of the Greenbelt City Council to address several pressing issues, principally the proposed elimination of the B30 bus route that connects the Greenbelt Metro Station and BWI Airport and the deferral of the platform reconstruction at the Greenbelt Station. Government Relations Officer Charlie Scott and Bus Operations Specialist Officer Ginger Archibald spoke for WMATA. In a letter sent from the city to WMATA on January 16, council called the B30 “an essential transportation link for Metrobus and Metrorail users which should be maintained.” Furthermore, “the platform and other aging infrastructure at the Greenbelt Station are in need of repair and rehabilitation now.” However, these cuts, among others, are now being considered as WMATA prepares the Fiscal Year 2021 budget. In the next couple months, WMATA will be convening public hearings in all its jurisdictions to gather public input. Other items on the table include: better weekend Metrobus service; improved MetroExtra service; better weekend Metrorail service; restored late night Metrorail service; improved customer service; weekday early morning Metrorail right-sizing; and reduced overlapping and less productive bus service, of which the B30 proposal is a part. Ultimately, the Metro board will debate the options and make a final decision. WMATA cited low ridership as the central reason for eliminating the B30. According to Archibald, it averages 264 board ings per day. This is a “very, very low” count, compared to the C4 Route which averages 8,832. Amtrak and MARC have become the preferred choice, said Ian Jannetta, media relations manager, as they offer the same price for a quicker trip. The cut would also affect transit between BWI and Arundel Mills Mall. Ridership decreased even after weekend service was eliminated and weekday frequency was lessened in June 2017.
Council expressed dissatisfaction with this proposal as it would end Metrobus service between Greenbelt, and Prince George’s County as a whole, and BWI. Councilmember Leta Mach called the choice unfair and inequitable, citing Metro’s continuing connections to Dulles and National airports. Councilmember Emmett Jordan raised the fact that MARC runs less predictably and frequently, and not at all on weekends. A councilmember also noted that the B30 lacks effective notice on its schedule, making it less reliable and desirable. Regarding the platform renovation, Scott assured council that it was still on the schedule post-2021 and acknowledged their eagerness for it to be done. It is part of a larger initiative conceived two years ago to rehabilitate 20 platforms across the rail system, which proved to be “extremely complex and complicated,” said Scott. On March 1 or later in the spring, existing lighting at the Greenbelt Station parking lot and bus bays will be replaced with energy efficient and cleaner LED lighting. The related issue of station cleanliness was discussed. Scott informed council that WMATA has terminated the former service contract, adding 35 custodial positions to improve cleaning because it wasn’t being done right. Jordan brought up the unsafe condition of the concrete sidewalks at the station, apart from the newly-repaved parking lot. Scott agreed, citing minimum customer impact that the repair would entail as the primary hurdle. City Planner Terri Hruby said that the planned walking trail connecting Greenbelt Station development to the Metro station is on schedule, with major strides made in permitting and construction plans.
WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld proposed rail fare increases during peak hours and this was also of concern to council. This would be a 10 cent rise in base rail fare to $2.35 and a $1 rise in maximum fare to $7. The latter would especially affect Greenbelt as it is an outlying stop, something Mayor Colin Byrd declared exploitive. Scott explained that there is a 3 percent subsidy growth cap on yearly government funding to WMATA, which acts as an obstacle to any budget decision. The cost of doing business goes up each year with inflation, eating up that percentage in no time. Maryland Delegate Mark Korman and Senator Brian Feldman have introduced legislation to remove that cap in the current legislative session. Byrd suggested council formally support the bill, with the council in agreement. Mach noted that the added funds could prevent the B30 elimination.