Response to growth in number of Southern Maryland commuters
DUNKIRK, Md. (June 2, 2015)—Officials from the Maryland Transit Administration, the Calvert County Board of Commissioners, and the Calvert County state delegation came together Tuesday for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the Dunkirk Park and Ride, and to announce increased Commuter Bus service to Calvert County.
The opening of the Dunkirk Park and Ride signifies the end of a multi-year process to expand MTA Commuter Bus service for citizens of Calvert County dating back to 2010, when officials then broke ground on a new Park and Ride located in Prince Frederick.
Development of the 486-space Dunkirk lot, which opened to commuters in December, underscores the tremendous population and commuter growth in Southern Maryland and Calvert County. The lot, located at 10839 Town Center Blvd., more than doubled the amount of available parking offered to commuters boarding buses in Dunkirk. In replacing the 230-space Park and Ride lot on Ferry Landing Road, this new lot also features improved lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, two designated shelters and enhanced landscaping. It adds to already expanded lots in Prince Frederick and Sunderland.
These new and expanded Park and Rides make possible the expansion of MTA Commuter Bus service to Southern Maryland, helping to meet the needs of the commuting public in Calvert Country. As of July 1, 2015, the MTA will split the current 904 Commuter Bus route into two (the 830 and 840), expanding service by 10 daily trips.
Additionally, the MTA will add an entirely new route, the 850, which will also utilize the new Dunkirk lot, adding another 10 trips. Moreover, the 850 will add new destinations in and around downtown Washington, D.C., which Commuter Bus does not reach today, responding to long-time requests from Calvert County residents. With the new 830, 840, and 850 routes, Commuter Bus service in Calvert County will expand by around 500 seats.
One more change in service will be to the current 904 Commuter Bus route. The 904, which leaves daily from North Beach, will also be expanded into two routes, the 810 and 820, adding another 12 one-way trips. That brings a total of 32 additional one-way trips originating out of Calvert County on a weekly basis.
"As a resident of the Eastern Shore, I can fully appreciate the need for forward-looking projects to meet the tremendous growth of the Calvert County region," said MTA Administrator Paul W. Comfort. "The creation of the Dunkirk Park and Ride lot is the type of forward-looking project that I am proud the MTA is associated with and helped bring to fruition with our partners."
With the addition of new stops, Commuter Bus continues to plan for increased demand in the area by partnering with the State Highway Administration to begin the expansion of parking facilities at Davidsonville, Snowden River, Wayson's Corner and Waldorf. By reducing the number of cars on our roadways, public transit is by its nature an environmentally friendly enterprise.
But the development of the Dunkirk Park and Ride Lot has brought an extra "green" component to the fore by protecting existing green space near the project. Trees surrounding the lot were placed under a forest conservation easement which prevented many trees around the lot to remain and not be cut down.
Source: Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)