O’Malley’s Top Transportation Aide Skipped All 30 Meetings With MARC Rider Advisory Panel

ANNAPOLIS – After 900 passengers were stranded on overheated MARC trains this week, Bob Ehrlich released the following statement regarding the O’Malley Administration’s culture of apathy toward MARC commuters. This apathy is demonstrated by the O’Malley Administration’s failure to send its top aides to the state’s MARC Rider Advisory Council meetings. The Council is an independent group of citizens appointed to help State government improve MARC service for commuters.

The Council’s minutes indicate that Governor O’Malley’s transportation secretary skipped all 30 meetings convened by the commuter panel since Governor O’Malley took office. By contrast, Ehrlich Administration Transportation Secretary Bob Flanagan attended the majority of MARC Rider Council meetings over four years. Further, Governor O’Malley’s current MTA Administrator has skipped every Council meeting since taking the job in December. The O’Malley Administration is also projected to cut $33 million from MARC next fiscal year.

“Governor O’Malley and his senior transportation leadership have had four years and 30 meetings with MARC riders to learn what’s on commuters’ minds, and chose not to participate. Had they given this citizen panel the respect it deserves, they would have learned years ago of declining service, shoddy operations, overcrowded trains, limited parking, and a general sense of frustration among riders.

“This will change if I am elected Governor. My first transportation secretary was an active participant in this panel’s discussions, and my next transportation secretary will play an equally active role. Commuters deserve a proactive Administration that anticipates and fixes problems, not one that reacts only when the press starts calling.”

The MARC Rider Advisory Council includes 15 members, all of whom are regular MARC commuters. Riders from all three lines serve on the Council, with the goal of representing an accurate cross-section of customers. More information on the panel can be found here: http://mta.maryland.gov/services/marc/serviceInformation/MARC_Riders_Advisory%20Council.cfm