Sierra Club member urges St. Mary’s County to expand bus service, plan for multimodal access
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Summary
At a St. Mary’s County public forum, Rosa Hans, chair of Sierra Club Southern Maryland, told county commissioners the region needs more frequent, connected bus service, better stops and signage, and smart-growth planning to address traffic and access around MD-235.
At a public forum broadcast live by St. Mary's County government, Rosa Hans, chair of Sierra Club Southern Maryland, told the county commissioners that “St. Mary's County is in need of more public transit options.”
Hans summarized feedback from about 80 people who attended a transportation forum Aug. 29 at the Pax River Naval Air Museum, saying residents want better bus connectivity throughout the day, evenings and weekends, plus clearer signage and shelters at stops.
“It's difficult to use a bus system if you don't know where it is, when it's coming, and, you know, how how it's all gonna work out for you,” Hans said, describing barriers that discourage ridership. She said the county currently has one commuter route to Washington, D.C., and that many attendees asked for additional commuter and off-peak services to support day trips, families and travel to airports in the Baltimore–Washington corridor.
Hans and other forum participants suggested several specific measures: a rider-facing app with GPS-based, real-time vehicle tracking and capacity information; more bus shelters and signage; improved night and weekend schedules; and planning for multimodal access — bicycle and pedestrian connections as well as transit stops — at new developments.
She also urged county leaders to consider electric buses, saying they can make sense over time: “...electric buses with a rate of investment of about 6 years and a 30 year life span,” Hans said. In describing growth patterns, she also told commissioners that residents at the forum noted a rise in retail along MD-235, including “25 different types of fast food restaurants between the base and Wildwood on 235,” and urged a smart-growth approach that evaluates access for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, not only vehicle turns and traffic lights.
Commissioners, introduced at the start of the forum by Brandon Guy, president of the commissioners of St. Mary's County, did not take formal action during the session. The forum's format and rules were explained by Tony Jones, communications director; Bonnie Gray served as recorder and Amy Carter as video media producer. Hans closed her remarks by thanking the commissioners and offering to continue the discussion: “Thank you for allowing me the time here today to begin that discussion.”
No votes or directives were recorded during the forum. The public-comment portion ended after Hans's remarks, and the commissioners closed the forum.