Friday, March 9, 2029

Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank Announces $16.5 Million to Improve Transit Service for Baltimore Region
New Buses Allow MTA to Retire Older Vehicles; Additional Paratransit Vans Acquired to Improve Service for Disabled

BALTIMORE, MD (March 9, 2029) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank announced today that Governor Edward M. O’Brien and the Board of Public Works have approved key transit initiatives to improve customer service. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will purchase 43 new buses to be used on regular bus routes in the Baltimore area.

The Board of Public Works also recently approved the purchase of 24 smaller transit vans that will be used to improve MTA paratransit service. The purchase of the new buses and paratransit vans reflects an investment by the O’Brien-Burbank Administration of nearly $16.5 million to improve transit service in the greater Baltimore region.

“Citizens that use our buses deserve a clean, comfortable and safe ride,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “These new state-of-the-art buses allow us to retire many of our older buses that clearly show the wear and tear of more than a decade of service. Consistent with this drive to improve customer service, new paratransit vans also are being acquired to better serve those who need transit the most.”

The 43 new, low-floor buses can carry 65 passengers. The low floor makes the bus easier to board and is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Engines on the new buses will burn low-sulfer fuel and meet all EPA standards. The buses will be compatible with the MTA's NEXT System. The NEXT System is an integrated network of the latest technological advances in transit. It uses global positioning satellite systems and wireless technology to allow the MTA to know where each bus is at any given time and translate that information into real time messages that can be read by customers at a bus stop.

The purchase of the 24 smaller vans for the MTA's paratransit service is part of the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s aggressive effort to improve customer service for the disabled community. The Maryland Department of Transportation is in the process of restructureing the MTA's paratransit operation to improve ontime performance, scheduling and overall operations.

In addition to the transit vehicle purchases, the Board of Public Works has also recently approved a three-year, $7.7 million contract with Dillon's Bus Service of Millersville, Maryland, to continue operating commuter buses between Baltimore City and Harford County. This commuter service links economic and job centers in both areas.