Community Corner

Is the New MARC Schedule Better or Worse?

State transit officials want Brunswick Line riders to rate the new schedule.

 

State transit officials are seeking feedback on the new schedule in place for its Brunswick Line, which runs from Martinsburg, WV, to Washington, DC, with stops in Germantown and Boyds.

Train riders can fill out an online survey or attend an open house from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, outside the Gaithersburg City Council Building, MARC officials said in a recent alert.

Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The commuter line has been operating on a new schedule since July 16.

The new schedule is a slightly tweaked version from what MARC proposed last year, which would have called for more substantial cuts in service in smaller stations — a move transit official said would help keep the Brunswick Line on schedule during peak times.

Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Riders and the transit system’s own Riders’ Advisory Council disapproved of the cuts, prompting MARC to further adjust the schedule and push back its initial Jan. 30 implementation date.

On average, 7,800 people travel on the Brunswick Line, with 800 of those riders stopping through Germantown daily, according to 2011 figures provided by MARC staff. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here