STATEMENT: Mayor Rawlings-Blake Issues Statement Encouraging Residents to Attend Charm City Circulator Public Meetings
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Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Mayor, 250 City Hall • Baltimore, Maryland 21202 • 410-396-3835 • Fax: 410-576-9425 Better Schools. Safer Streets. Stronger Neighborhoods. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT |
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Wednesday, August 9, 2016 |
Anthony McCarthy |
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Statement Mayor Rawlings-Blake Issues Statement Encouraging Residents to Attend Charm City Circulator Public Meetings |
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BALTIMORE, Md. (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)—Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a statement encouraging residents to attend Charm City Circulator public meetings. Public meetings in August and September are the opportunity for the public to help make the Charm City Circulator a more efficient service that directly meets the needs of the downtown area. This summer, I directed the Department of Transportation to propose service reductions to the Charm City Circulator to manage financial uncertainty and ensure a sustainable future. While the Charm City Circulator service is free and widely popular, it does not come without a cost, and without a secure funding base we must work to make the service meet transit rider’s needs while being fiscally responsible. When the budgeting process began, I proposed an increase in the parking tax, which would have kept us with a competitive and comparable rate to similar cities to fund the Circulator. Without additional revenue, long term sustainability of the Circulator is in question, and an increase in the parking tax remains the most logical solution. There are many uncertainties in the future cost of the Circulator service, and I have directed my staff to assume the worst case scenario; that we will have a $6 million dollar shortfall at the end of this fiscal year. That number could be reduced significantly depending on operating costs under a new contract and the potential opportunity to lease buses instead of purchase them. This fall, the Board of Estimates will open bid packages from vendors interested in operating the Circulator service, and we will then have a better idea of our final costs going forward. Until then, we must move forward with our worst case scenario, which would include the potential cut of the Green Line, the Banner Route, and the Purple Line Extension. Because of this, it has never been more important for the public to be engaged in the process. These meetings are an opportunity to define and structure the future of the Circulator. Every option is on the table. We want to hear route proposals, headway adjustments, marketing strategies, and every other idea the public has regarding the Circulator. This is your service and I am dedicated to making the service you want and need to get around downtown Baltimore. While it remains likely that service will be reduced, the opportunity exists to make the remaining service more closely align with rider’s needs. We will work with members of the City Council, State delegation and other interested stakeholders as we make these decisions. Most importantly, we cannot make those decisions without your input. We have the opportunity to make the Charm City Circulator a better, more sustainable service within financial restrictions. I am calling on the public to help decide the future of the Circulator and ensure we have the best local transit system possible. Public meeting dates and locations: Monday, August 29, 2016 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm St. Philip and James Catholic Church 2801 N. Charles Street (church hall) Baltimore, MD. 21218
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Highway Baltimore, MD. 21230
Thursday, September 1, 2016 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm St. Leo's The Great Church 227 S. Exeter Street Baltimore, MD. 21202
Thursday, September 8, 2016 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Maryland Bio Park 801 W. Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD. 21202
The meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Please contact Ms. Grishae Blackette, Southeast Liaison at 443-984-4095 if you have any special needs. Additional information is available on the Circulator website, at www.charmcitycirculator.com |
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