Maryland Transit Administration

Here is the Morning MoJo Report for Monday, April 2: * As of 7 a.m., traffic on I-495 in both directions and on I-270 southbound was a little sluggish, but was running fine on all the other interstates throughout the area. * There are minor delays on the MARC Train, according to the Maryland Transit Administration's website, http://mta.maryland.gov/ . Penn Line Train 505 is disabled in Perryville, and Train 407 (5:40 a.m. Baltimore Departure) is expected to operate one hour late.

The county commissioners on Tuesday approved $57,438 for the purchase of a transit bus for the County Commuter. The bus will hold seven passengers and include three wheelchair positions. It will replace a bus that is 10 years old and that exceeds the Federal Transit Administration's standard of usefulness, according to Kevin Cerrone, director of the county's transportation department. The department is buying the bus from Shepard Bros. Inc., of Canandaigua, N.Y. Normally, the department buys buses through the Maryland Transit Administration.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Local officials on Thursday talked about what they can do avert a "crisis situation for commuters" that involves eliminating one of three MARC commuter trains that serves Harpers Ferry, Duffields and Martinsburg. The elimination of MARC Train 883 is being considered by the Maryland Transit Administration to reduce funding shortfalls, but state Senator-elect Herb Snyder said Thursday that now is not the time to cut commuter train service in the Eastern Panhandle.

People commuting to the Baltimore area by car or to Washington, D.C., by train might have run into travel difficulties Wednesday morning. Interstate 70 was closed in both directions for more than an hour following a three-vehicle accident east of Md. 97 in Howard County, the Maryland Department of Transportation reported. The accident was reported shortly before 8:30 a.m., according to MDOT. By 9:45 a.m., all but one eastbound shoulder of I-70 had reopened. MARC rail service from Frederick, Md., to Washington was canceled Wednesday morning because a disabled freight train was blocking the tracks, according to the Maryland Transit Administration.

The House Finance Committee on Wednesday made significant changes to a bill that would support the operation of MARC commuter train service in the Eastern Panhandle, but the legislation's lead sponsor said it still is “a great bill.” “Getting it out of that committee almost assures passage,” state Sen. Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson/Berkeley, said after the committee voted to pass its amended version of Senate Bill 103. “I'm happy.” ...

Here is the Morning MoJo Report for Thursday, Nov. 8: * As of 7 a.m., traffic was sluggish on I-270 southbound and I-495 in both directions, but was running fine on all the other interstates throughout the area. * The MARC Train, light rail, metro bus service, local and commuter buses, and mobility service were all running on time and operating on their regular schedules, according to the Maryland Transit Administration's website, mta.maryland.gov . * The weather today is expected to include some clouds and then become sunny with a high of 50 degrees, according to the AccuWeather forecast on the HMTV6 weather website at www.herald-mail.com/hmtv6/weather/.