Bus Commuters In Montgomery Feeling Ignored

D ear Dr. Gridlock:

We are very concerned about changes to bus service in our neighborhood. We live in the Tamarack Triangle area of North Silver Spring; this is a residential neighborhood that's about halfway between Route 29/Columbia Pike and New Hampshire Avenue, approximately three miles from each. Our only public transportation service is the C7 bus, which goes to the Glenmont Metro. The bus runs during rush hours only, and because of low ridership, Metro is considering canceling the route.

Recently, Montgomery County's Department of Public Works and Transportation announced that it will institute new Ride On bus service (Route 21) . It will cover part of the route served by the C7, including our closest bus stop.

While there would appear to be no good reason to divert passengers from Glenmont, the new Ride On service will nevertheless terminate at more congested Silver Spring. The trip in substantial part will be by way of Route 29 (Columbia Pike/Colesville Road), one of the worst traffic arteries in the metropolitan area.

Apparently, because ridership is low on the C7, DPWT officials believe they are justified in ignoring those of us who must rely on that Metrobus route as well as those who know that it's more efficient to travel south from our neck of the woods via Metrorail than via traffic-impeded buses. All in all, we think, a disservice to those who already rely on public transportation and an unattractive option for those who might otherwise be tempted to give up their cars.

Marsha Fausti

Silver Spring

Bottom line here: Maryland has made significant improvements along Route 29, but between White Oak and Silver Spring, north-south commuting is a nightmare. Better bus service can be an important part of an improvement plan, but the buses get stuck in traffic, too. The state and Montgomery County need to focus more attention and resources on this area.

Our letter writer figured out that catching Metrorail at Glenmont is easier, but apparently she was one of the few. Metro's staff is asking its board of directors for a public hearing on discontinuing routes C7 and C9 on the Greenbelt-Glenmont Line, which averages 14 passengers per trip, so it can ease crowding and improve service on the overstressed Z Line in the Route 29 corridor.