New MTA Bus stop at Charlotte Hall

[DQ2B]

*SUCKS* big time. I got there at 5:20 this morning - and couldn't find a spot near my bus stop. Did they not count the number of spots needed for the bus? I can't imagine what a pain it's gonna be if I had to take a later bus. I'd be walking a couple hundred yards.

Also - we're in the dark again. The road is slight curved, so the bus tilts to one side when I get on. I almost fell into my seat. And at least for now, there's no clear distinction of who's waiting for what bus, so when the bus arrives and you're at a stop where more than one bus loads, there's a few moments of mild pandemonium.

I hope they either pave that area near the trees - or allow some parking under the trees. Because if they don't, the businesses are STILL going to have people taking up their parking lot. There's just not enough space for them.

There is at least one advantage - for the buses. They have a much easier time getting in and out. Previously, I swear it looked like they were all at war with one another to get around.

Come on people! Be thankful we don't have to PAY for parking as well. Metro users pay $3.50 per day for parking in addition to the transportation cost.

 

[SamSpade]

Come on people! Be thankful we don't have to PAY for parking as well. Metro users pay $3.50 per day for parking in addition to the transportation cost.

What's wrong with complaining? No one MAKES me use that bus. I'm their customer, and if they want to keep me, they need to make it worth my time. If I am dissatisfied with their service, I'll leave.

If I had to pay that much for parking, there probably wouldn't be a big incentive for me to use the bus at all. It costs me about 6 dollars a day of additional gas to commute by car but it costs me an additional hour and a half minimum in commute time each day. I do take the bus because it saves me money and amazingly, Uncle Sam subsidizes most of it. If he didn't, it would actually cost me just a little bit MORE to ride the bus than to drive. (A roundtrip by bus is 6.50/day. Add 3.50 for parking and it's ten dollars a day. Too expensive).

I don't know how those Metro users do it unless their Metro costs are covered, because riding Metro is expensive. My dad took it for years, but he always got a ride to the station.

 

[sanchezf]

What's wrong with complaining? No one MAKES me use that bus. I'm their customer, and if they want to keep me, they need to make it worth my time. If I am dissatisfied with their service, I'll leave.

If I had to pay that much for parking, there probably wouldn't be a big incentive for me to use the bus at all. It costs me about 6 dollars a day of additional gas to commute by car but it costs me an additional hour and a half minimum in commute time each day. I do take the bus because it saves me money and amazingly, Uncle Sam subsidizes most of it. If he didn't, it would actually cost me just a little bit MORE to ride the bus than to drive. (A roundtrip by bus is 6.50/day. Add 3.50 for parking and it's ten dollars a day. Too expensive).

I don't know how those Metro users do it unless their Metro costs are covered, because riding Metro is expensive. My dad took it for years, but he always got a ride to the station.

 

[happyappygirl]

i marched my fanny over to the MTA pickup truck this morning at 5:30 am...the fellow was just sitting in the lot with the thing running. i wasn't miffed they moved the stop, i WAS miffed it was DARK, and i mean DARK out there. Its bad enough i have to leave my cozy warm house in the dark and return to it in the dark each day because public transportation can't fix the over abundance of motorists on this short road to he!! each day, but don't make me stand at a public bus stop, facing the woods, in the dark. There's just something about that...that just pizzed me off this am. (PMS?)

I asked the fellow who i could talk to regarding the SAFETY issue of catching the bus in the dark (considering many folks have had their cars broken into in this very lot so not everyone here is there for the ride). His comment was ...and i quote "i AM MTA, so complaining to me won't help you. You all stand there in groups so you're plenty safe." WHAT? he went on to elaborate...."creating this PAVED bus stop (I told him i'd rather have LIGHTS than pavement!!) was expensive, and the public transportation dept will NOT foot the bill to trench more lighting to the actual stops, especially when a new bus stop would be built at Rt 6 in 18 months." I questioned him on the "new" location (figuring OK...this is short term i can deal with that) and he became ambiguous...and said..."um...well a new stop is going to be started, possibly...yada yada (i stopped listening at that point)" then he said i could contact my congressman to make some noise. ARRRGGG. GOOD grief who was the weiner who planned the lighting? Then planned the blacktop and THEN WHERE the stops would actually be? they added another 905 bus at what time...4:15 AM? on anybody's time clock THAT'S in the DARK. Geesh. Doesn't take a brain surgeon...

 

[sanchezf]

i marched my fanny over to the MTA pickup truck this morning at 5:30 am...the fellow was just sitting in the lot with the thing running. i wasn't miffed they moved the stop, i WAS miffed it was DARK, and i mean DARK out there. Its bad enough i have to leave my cozy warm house in the dark and return to it in the dark each day because public transportation can't fix the over abundance of motorists on this short road to he!! each day, but don't make me stand at a public bus stop, facing the woods, in the dark. There's just something about that...that just pizzed me off this am. (PMS?)

I asked the fellow who i could talk to regarding the SAFETY issue of catching the bus in the dark (considering many folks have had their cars broken into in this very lot so not everyone here is there for the ride). His comment was ...and i quote "i AM MTA, so complaining to me won't help you. You all stand there in groups so you're plenty safe." WHAT? he went on to elaborate...."creating this PAVED bus stop (I told him i'd rather have LIGHTS than pavement!!) was expensive, and the public transportation dept will NOT foot the bill to trench more lighting to the actual stops, especially when a new bus stop would be built at Rt 6 in 18 months." I questioned him on the "new" location (figuring OK...this is short term i can deal with that) and he became ambiguous...and said..."um...well a new stop is going to be started, possibly...yada yada (i stopped listening at that point)" then he said i could contact my congressman to make some noise. ARRRGGG. GOOD grief who was the weiner who planned the lighting? Then planned the blacktop and THEN WHERE the stops would actually be? they added another 905 bus at what time...4:15 AM? on anybody's time clock THAT'S in the DARK. Geesh. Doesn't take a brain surgeon...

I am surprised you didn't yank him out of the truck window

 

[SamSpade]

i marched my fanny over to the MTA pickup truck this morning at 5:30 am...the fellow was just sitting in the lot with the thing running. i wasn't miffed they moved the stop, i WAS miffed it was DARK, and i mean DARK out there. Its bad enough i have to leave my cozy warm house in the dark and return to it in the dark each day because public transportation can't fix the over abundance of motorists on this short road to he!! each day, but don't make me stand at a public bus stop, facing the woods, in the dark. There's just something about that...that just pizzed me off this am. (PMS?)

I asked the fellow who i could talk to regarding the SAFETY issue of catching the bus in the dark (considering many folks have had their cars broken into in this very lot so not everyone here is there for the ride). His comment was ...and i quote "i AM MTA, so complaining to me won't help you. You all stand there in groups so you're plenty safe." WHAT? he went on to elaborate...."creating this PAVED bus stop (I told him i'd rather have LIGHTS than pavement!!) was expensive, and the public transportation dept will NOT foot the bill to trench more lighting to the actual stops, especially when a new bus stop would be built at Rt 6 in 18 months." I questioned him on the "new" location (figuring OK...this is short term i can deal with that) and he became ambiguous...and said..."um...well a new stop is going to be started, possibly...yada yada (i stopped listening at that point)" then he said i could contact my congressman to make some noise. ARRRGGG. GOOD grief who was the weiner who planned the lighting? Then planned the blacktop and THEN WHERE the stops would actually be? they added another 905 bus at what time...4:15 AM? on anybody's time clock THAT'S in the DARK. Geesh. Doesn't take a brain surgeon...

I've been hearing about this "new bus stop" for at least as long as I've been riding. I don't plan to hold my breath.

And I don't think I fully understand the rationale behind the timing of buses. It seems to me a more frequent bus schedule would attract more riders than earlier and later buses. Plus, I don't know why they wouldn't slightly INCREASE the rides home, because while you might miss the bus on the way in, you'll lose interest in the bus ride completely if the bus is full for the ride HOME. It already happens that when a bus breaks down, they all too often expect riders to take the next bus - even though it may be full upon arrival.

Mostly I'm pleased with service. But I'm not crazy about several of the new changes. They went through a lot of work to listen to the grievances of some store owners - they should consider at least the concerns of their ridership if they want to keep them.

 

[cattitude]

What's wrong with complaining? No one MAKES me use that bus. I'm their customer, and if they want to keep me, they need to make it worth my time. If I am dissatisfied with their service, I'll leave.

Then drive your car, pay the expensive gas prices, pay to park and rack up the mileage. There are plenty of people who find the minor inconveniences worth it in the long run.

Otter and I ride the Keller bus to/from Prince Frederick - DC. Our parking lot is lit but it's not paved and it is frequently full of mud and water. We have been assured that something will be done but not in the near future.

The buses are full quite often on the return trips. Fortunately for us, we get on in the mornings at the second stop and we get a seat together and in the afternoon, I'm one of the first stops out of the city. Otter metros over to my stop so he is able to get a seat.

Public transportation isn't perfect but it's not that bad either. They are trying to service a rather large number of people with varying schedules. I think they do a fairly good job.

 

[happyappygirl]

I am surprised you didn't yank him out of the truck window

i did start the converstation by asking him to drive over to the 905 stop and point his headlights at the stop, he gave me a deer in the head lights look.

 

[happyappygirl]

Then drive your car, pay the expensive gas prices, pay to park and rack up the mileage. There are plenty of people who find the minor inconveniences worth it in the long run.

Otter and I ride the Keller bus to/from Prince Frederick - DC. Our parking lot is lit but it's not paved and it is frequently full of mud and water. We have been assured that something will be done but not in the near future.

The buses are full quite often on the return trips. Fortunately for us, we get on in the mornings at the second stop and we get a seat together and in the afternoon, I'm one of the first stops out of the city. Otter metros over to my stop so he is able to get a seat.

Public transportation isn't perfect but it's not that bad either. They are trying to service a rather large number of people with varying schedules. I think they do a fairly good job.

and i think you are absolutely right.
i DON'T like not feeling safe when i stand at the stop waiting for a bus or when i get off the bus in the dark. Safety is a primary concern, and as i told MR MTA this morning, the amount of money spent on paving will not begin to cover the cost should someone be injured because they are climbing onto or off of a bus in the dark, or worse, get hurt by someone else who also arrives at the lot at 4:15 am having no intention of catching a bus...in the dark.

 

[nrp82smr]

I ride the 905 keller bus to and from work.. i am also visually impared ( almost blind) so for me the sitting in the dark thing definately makes me feel unsafe... also the fact that my only ride to the bus catches his ride at 3:30 so im sitting in his locked car from then until 4:15 is not a good combination...i have been looking for someone to ride with to and from the bus, but haven't been successful.. i get to work at 5:15 although my scheduled time to arrive isn't until 6:00 so im working 45 mins for free lol

Also since i cant read the bus signs when i get on i always ask the driver what bus this is ( accidentally rode the 901 onece not good lol) they look at me like im freakin stupid really pisses me off...

 

[huntr1]

I went to the town hall info meeting on the new bus stop about a year and a half ago. I'll believe it's going in when I see some Keller buses on Rt.6.

Location of future bus stop:
turn into the transfer station entrance on Rt. 6, where road currently turns left, it will continue straight ahead and bus stops will be behind the transfer station with parking going almost all the way to Lettie Dent. There will be an exit to/from Northbound 5 just north of Rt.6 and south of the powerlines (i believe there is an old overgrown logging road there now).