Section 7-902 - Passenger railroad services.
§ 7-902. Passenger railroad services.
(a) Definitions.-
(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Level of service" includes the number of round trips operated on a route and the number of stations along a route.
(3) "Route" means a passenger railroad service line described under subsections (b) through (d) of this section.
(b) Level of service.- The Administration shall continue to operate the following passenger railroad services at levels of service at least equivalent to the level of service established as of July 1, 1981:
(1) The CSX line between Brunswick and the District of Columbia;
(2) The Amtrak line between Penn Station in Baltimore and the District of Columbia; and
(3) The CSX line between Camden Station in Baltimore and the District of Columbia.
(c) Level of service - Perryville and Penn Station.- The Administration shall continue to operate the passenger railroad service on the Amtrak line between Perryville and Penn Station in Baltimore at the level of service at least equivalent to the level of service established as of May 1, 1991.
(d) Level of service - Frederick and Point of Rocks.- The Administration shall continue to operate the passenger services on the CSX line between Frederick and Point of Rocks at the level of service at least equivalent to the level of service established as of December 17, 2001.
(e) Station closings.-
(1) The Administration may not close a station on any route before June 30, 2008.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Administration may close the Jessup Station on the CSX line between Camden Station in Baltimore and the District of Columbia at any time if the Administration finds that the ridership at the Jessup Station does not warrant keeping the station open.
(f) Regulations.- The Administration shall adopt regulations to facilitate the transportation of bicycles on board passenger railroad services.
(g) Studies required prior to station closings.- Before closing a station on a passenger railroad service line described in subsection (b) of this section, the Maryland Transit Administration shall review and report, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Governor and the General Assembly, on the following:
(1) With respect to the Dickerson and Boyds MARC stations on the CSX line between Brunswick and the District of Columbia:
(i) The impact on traffic congestion along the Interstate 270, Md State Route 117, and Md State Route 28 corridors as a result of the station closures;
(ii) The impact of future growth in upper Montgomery and southern Frederick counties, particularly in Clarksburg over the next 5 years, and the projected ridership for the Boyds and Dickerson stations as a result of that future growth;
(iii) The impact of the projected growth in upper Montgomery and southern Frederick counties on traffic congestion along the Interstate 270, Md State Route 117, and Md State Route 28 corridors and the transit alternatives that are contemplated to meet any increased demand;
(iv) The methodology used to compute average daily ridership;
(v) The impact on projected ridership on the line if the stations are closed and later reopened due to impending growth;
(vi) The projected ridership if train stops are increased from three stops each to nine stops each for trains arriving at Washington Union Station and from four stops each to ten stops each (to discharge passengers only) for trains departing Washington Union Station;
(vii) Under an expanded schedule, the estimated increase in train service as a result of increasing the number of stops;
(viii) Options to increase ridership at stations with low ridership, including investing in a ridership campaign to promote stations with low ridership;
(ix) The projected ridership after investing in a ridership campaign to promote the stations;
(x) The schedule for installing ticket vending machines at the stations and whether such vending machines have already been purchased;
(xi) Whether a vending machine that is scheduled to be installed at another station could temporarily be used at either or both of these stations;
(xii) The impact on riders boarding at these stations if vending machines are not installed at the stations;
(xiii) An evaluation of potential increased bus service to the stations, and parking lot expansion near the stations, including any possible options for parking lot expansion;
(xiv) Specific efforts undertaken to:
1. Attract new riders on the lines and to retain riders already using the lines; and
2. Improve access for individuals with disabilities;
(xv) Potential alternatives to closing stations that would achieve greater efficiency on the Brunswick and Camden CSX lines;
(xvi) Potential sources of alternative funding for the operating and capital costs of keeping the stations open, including collaboration with local governments; and
(xvii) The description of the $300,000 passenger warning system for the Dickerson Station and whether other possible, less costly, passenger warning systems were considered and the reasons why such systems were not employed; and
(2) With regard to the St. Denis Station on the CSX line between Camden Station in Baltimore and the District of Columbia:
(i) The information required under items (1)(vii) through (xvi) of this subsection;
(ii) The implications of closing a passenger railroad service facility that is a State or federally designated historic landmark or that is located in a State or federally designated historic district;
(iii) The impact on traffic congestion along the Interstate 95, Interstate 295, and Md State Route 100 corridors as a result of the station closure;
(iv) The effect of closing the St. Denis Station on ridership at the Halethorpe Station, including the effect on traffic and parking at the Halethorpe Station and in Arbutus;
(v) The projected ridership at the St. Denis Station if train stops are increased up to nine stops; and
(vi) The projected ridership at the St. Denis Station if service to and from Baltimore is resumed.
(h) Public hearing prior to establishing or abandoning a station.-
(1) Until a public hearing is held on the matter, the Administration may not establish or abandon a station on a route.
(2) The Administration shall give notice of a hearing at least 30 days before the hearing.
(3) The notice shall be:
(i) Published once a week for 2 successive weeks in two or more newspapers of wide circulation throughout the Administration's commuter rail service area; and
(ii) Posted in all of the Administration's offices, stations, and terminals and all of its commuter rail rolling stock in revenue service.
(4) The 30-day period begins when the notice first appears in the newspaper.
(5) (i) If the Administration gives inadequate notice of a public hearing on a matter described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Administration may not establish or abandon a station unless a legally sufficient public hearing is held.
(ii) For the purposes of this paragraph, notice shall be considered inadequate if:
1. The Administration does not comply with the newspaper publication requirement under paragraph (3)(i) of this subsection; or
2. At least 30% of the Administration's facilities are not posted as required under paragraph (3)(ii) of this subsection.
(6) The Administration may implement a change of policy on a matter described in paragraph (1) of this subsection only during the time period beginning 6 weeks after the date of the public hearing and ending 6 months after the date of the public hearing.
[1992, ch. 127, § 2; 2000, ch. 684; 2001, ch. 730; 2006, ch. 18; ch. 44, § 6; 2007, chs. 5, 556; 2008, ch. 684.]