Government > Reports and Documents > Proposals for C-40, Fare Increases and Other Service Changes

Annapolis Transit

Proposals for C-40, Fare Increases and Other Service Changes

Mayor Joshua J. Cohen’s administration is considering a number of changes in an effort to reduce the City’s transportation budget by about $1.3 million. The City Council Transportation Committee and the citizen-run Transportation Board are seeking input on the proposed changes.  Recommendations will be made to the City Council, which must ratify any of these proposals.

• The City is proposing the elimination of C-40 route between Edgewater and Anne Arundel County Community College
• Changing the start time of the bus service from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Elimination of transit services on all holidays that City administrative offices are closed
• Increasing the base transit fare from $1 to $2
• Charging $1 for the Navy Blue Shuttle service and eliminating the free fare zone
• Consolidating or modifying the citywide route structure

C-40 background

Purpose: The C-40 was launched in January 2003 and was intended to assist city residents looking for job opportunities outside of Annapolis.

Days of service and hours of operation: The route runs Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Buses depart Spa Road on even hours to Edgewater and on odd hours to Arnold.

Round trip: 22 miles

• North Loop: Annapolis to Arnold and Anne Arundel Community College
• South Loop:  Annapolis to Edgewater

120 minutes for each loop (60 minutes at Spa Road Transfer Point)

Fares:

• $1 per zone; $2 base fare for Edgewater or Arnold/AACC to/from Annapolis
• $4 base fare for Arnold/AACC to/from Edgewater; route deviation services cost double

Ridership: On average, the route carries roughly 20 passengers a day, or 40 round trips per day, making it one of the least productive routes

Cost of operation: The C-40 route costs the city $225,000 to operate annually. Fare box receipts cover approximately 5 percent of the operating cost, compared to the suggested Maryland Transit Adminstration’s performance standard of 20 to 25 percent of the operating cost. The C-40 route is partially funded through the Federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program, and through the State of Maryland Rural and Community Based (RCB) Services program. The City contributes more than 50 percent of the operating cost for the C-40 Route.

Other route data (FY 2008):

Annual Passenger Trips: 13,669

Annual Revenue Hours: 3,625

Annual Revenue Miles: 48,938

Annual Operating Cost: $224,915

Passenger Trips per Revenue Hour: 3.77

Operating Cost per Revenue Hour: $62.05

Operating Cost per Revenue Mile: $4.60

Operating Cost per Passenger Trip: $16.45

Other transit proposals -- background

Reduced holiday service: The City will also consider the elimination of bus service on holidays when City administrative offices are closed. For New Year’s Eve, only the Brown, Gold and Navy Blue Shuttle routes operate. Service ends at 7 p.m. Special New Year’s Event Shuttle begins at 7 p.m. and operates a half-hour beyond the special event's posted time.

Annapolis Transit currently operates on the following holidays: (These days are being proposed for elimination of bus service)

• Martin L. King Jr. Day - Regular Bus Service, free ride
• President’s Day - Regular Bus Service
• Maryland Day - Regular Bus Service
• Good Friday - Gold/Brown Buses and shuttles in Service
• Veterans Day Observed - Regular Bus Service

New start times: Moving the start time from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. can reduce operating costs by $20,000 to $40,000 annually.

Fare increases: The following changes are being considered to improve the portion of operating costs that are covered by Fare Box Receipts. The Maryland Transit Administration suggests that Fare Box should cover at least 20 to 25 percent of the operating cost.  For Annapolis Transit, Fare Box receipts cover approximately 9 percent of the City’s operating cost.  

Base Fare Increase: The current bus fare of $1 has not changed for a number of years.  Other municipalities are raising the base fare to help cover the cost of operation. For example:

• City of Alexandria, Va.: Increased from $1.00 to $1.25 in January 2009 and up to $1.50 in July 2010.
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Increased fares by 18 percent for both Metrorail and Metrobus (to $1.50 with smartcard and $1.70 cash) in June. Increasing in peak period fare for Metrorail by $0.20 on Aug. 1.
• City of Arlington, Va.: Increasing from $1.25 to $1.50 in July 2010. Para transit fares increased by 20 percent.

In FY 2009, the City of Annapolis received $460,000 in cash receipts, against a total operating budget of more than $5,100,000. The City is considering increasing the base fare to $1.50 or possible up to $2. Senior citizen discounts and ADA reduced fares would continue to be available, but they would be adjusted proportionately according to the base fare increase.

Navy Blue Shuttle Fare: The administration is considering charging a dedicated fare of $1 for this service. The shuttle departs from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the hour and half-hour to Historic Annapolis and Inner West Street. The shuttle fee is included in the $5 parking fee at the stadium. This service was originally implemented to provide transportation from the Naval Academy Stadium parking lots to downtown and to the Naval Academy Gate. Current one-way ridership is approximately 105 passengers a day.

Free Fare Zone: The administration is considering eliminating this Free Fare Zone. The City currently provides a Free Fare Zone from Compromise Street (on the downtown side of the Spa Creek Bridge) to Westgate Circle. This includes Duke of Gloucester, Main and West streets as well as Church Circle. Downtown FREE Zone bus routes include the Yellow, Gold, Brown and Green. It is difficult for the bus system to limit a passenger’s travel to match the Free Fare Zone.  All passengers would pay the normal base fare when entering any bus route. Any fare increases would not affect residents who have already purchased discounted passes (Aqua, Gold, 3-month and Annual). However, new passes may have increased fees.

Note: Senior and Student discounts will continue to be offered.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THESE PROPOSALS: The City’s Transportation Department will hold a public hearing Thursday, July 29 at City Hall. The public hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 160 Duke of Gloucester St. The public is also invited to attend a joint meeting of the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Alderman Ian Pfeiffer, and the citizen-run Transportation Board, chaired by former mayor Dean Johnson, from 8 to 9 p.m. It will further weigh the proposed transit cuts, fare increases and other service changes. For city residents who cannot attend, the public hearing and the joint meeting will aired live on City TV (Verizon Channel 34 and Comcast Channel 99/100).

ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR COMMENT ON THESE PROPOSALS: The Transportation Department will accept public comments on the proposed elimination of service and route restructuring until August 29. Comments may be mailed to: Attention: C-40/Other Changes, 308 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis, Md, 21401. They can also be e-mailed to transit@annapolis.gov