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Allegany County transit staff propose converting Purple Line fixed route to demand‑response service; no decision tonight
Summary
At a public hearing, Allegany County transit staff presented plans to convert the low‑ridership Purple Line fixed bus route to a demand‑response (door‑to‑door) service operating Tuesdays and Fridays; staff will return with a formal recommendation and no vote was taken tonight.
Allegany County transit staff told commissioners at a public hearing that they plan to convert the Purple Line from a fixed route to a demand‑response, door‑to‑door service to improve efficiency and better match vehicle size to demand.
The proposed change was presented as part of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) public‑hearing process, which requires a minimum 30‑day advertisement and an opportunity for public comment; no action or vote was taken tonight.
Transit staff said the demand‑response service would originate in the Georgia’s Creek area, run Tuesdays and Fridays, and require customers to make advance reservations (at least the day before) so staff can assign an appropriately sized vehicle. Staff described pick‑up distances as roughly within a half‑mile of the route’s previous stops, and said the first trip would start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.; appointments should be scheduled so riders are ready no later than about 10:30 a.m. Vehicle sizes would be matched to demand and could include small minibuses (staff referenced 8‑, 12‑ and 16‑seat vehicles).
“By changing this into a demand‑response type of service, we will go door to door to pick up the passengers,” Libby, Allegany County transit staff, said. She described the change as intended to put all riders on one vehicle where possible and to avoid sending an oversized bus on low‑ridership runs.
Commissioners and staff said they have fielded calls from riders and that most people who contacted the transit office appeared supportive because they would receive door‑to‑door service. Administrator Bennett thanked Libby and other transit staff for their outreach and follow up with concerned riders.
Next steps: staff said they expect to return to the commissioners with a formal recommendation in the coming weeks and would give residents notice before implementing the change. Because this meeting was conducted as a public hearing on proposed service changes under the MTA process, no vote was held and no policy change was finalized tonight.
