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Commissioners approve JARC funding and MOUs to extend evening and weekend transit service in Great Mills
Summary
St. Mary's Transit System won board approval for three Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) agreements and memorandums of understanding that will fund evening, Saturday and Sunday service on the Great Mills loop, with county and Department of Social Services cost-sharing.
The St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners authorized memorandums of agreement and grant certifications Tuesday to continue extended evening and weekend service on the Great Mills transit loop.
The board approved three Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) proposals — referred to in staff materials as JARC 1, 2 and 3 (project numbers US-1472, US-1473 and MD-1476) — and authorized Commissioner President Jack Russell to execute the memorandums of agreement with the Maryland State Department of Human Resources and the Department of Social Services. The motion, made by Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence (Larry) Jarboe, carried by voice vote.
Jacqueline Fournier, transportation manager for the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation, and Mary Anne Blankenship, St. Mary’s Transit System (STS) supervisor, outlined the services supported by the grants. Fournier said the three grants fund extended evening and weekend routes; JARC 1 and 2 provide evening service Monday–Friday and full-day service on Saturdays, while JARC 3 covers Sunday service on the Great Mills–California area loop. Blankenship reported ridership for the three JARC services at 15,097 passenger trips in the most recent quarter and said total STS ridership was up to approximately 7,100 passenger trips year-to-date compared with last year. “Currently, for the Q3, the JRC 1, 2, and 3, ridership is at 15,097 passenger trips,” Blankenship said.
The county and the Department of Social Services agreed to cost-share $80,000 total to support the three services, with the staff motion listing county contributions of $20,000, $20,000 and $40,000 respectively for US-1472, US-1473 and MD-1476. Fournier said some of the routes also receive Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) funding; JARC 3 (Sunday service) is supported by county and social services funding only.
Commissioners noted the importance of Sunday service for residents who work nontraditional schedules and for family and worship activities. The board’s authorization included the required certification of lobbying for the grant applications. The Department of Public Works and Transportation will execute the MOUs and administer the grant-funded service extensions.
