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  • MARC ridership stats by station?

  • Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.
Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.

Moderators: mtuandrew, therock, Robert Paniagua

 #1231444  by Arlington
 
Is there a source that gives MARC ridership stats by station?

I'm curious mostly to see how West Virginia service "pays for itself"--it is one of a handful of unusual rail services that "free ride" on another service (or, more charitably, "work synergistically and without subsidy"). The other being how New Hampshire towns "free ride" on Maine's Amtrak Downeaster with Maine and the MBTA supporting the service, and New Hampshire state not contributing any operating help, but that enough fare-income is available by stopping in NH such that they "can't afford not to" stop.

My understanding is that MARC extends into West Virginia in a similar way...they can't afford not to go to Martinsburg because the money is good enough that they might as well...without subsidy from WV, but with enough riders from WV paying high enough fares that it still "works" to go there for Maryland (is it break even? slightly revenue-positive?)
 #1231564  by polybalt
 
I'm curious mostly to see how West Virginia service "pays for itself"--it is one of a handful of unusual rail services that "free ride" on another service (or, more charitably, "work synergistically and without subsidy"). The other being how New Hampshire towns "free ride" on Maine's Amtrak Downeaster with Maine and the MBTA supporting the service, and New Hampshire state not contributing any operating help, but that enough fare-income is available by stopping in NH such that they "can't afford not to" stop.
At least years ago, when I knew about such things, there was a "payment" of sorts by West Virginia that offset the MARC operating costs in West Virginia, and I assume it is still the case. By federal law, FTA provides capital matching funds to each state that is operating rail transit (and commuter) service. The amount is based on a formula that involves the miles of rail service operated in that state. West Virginia's share is based primarily on the MARC service in that state, and the deal is that West Virginia makes that capital money available to MARC. That infusion of captital funds roughly matches the operating loss to MARC related to running in West Virginia
 #1231683  by realtype
 
Besides the reallocated federal funding that polybalt mentions, as far as I know West Virginia doesn't pay anything to subsidize MARC service. However, since 2009 (when the recession seriously affected state budgets across the country and transit systems were forced to raise fares or cut services) West Virginia riders pay a surcharge of $2 per one-way ticket, $20 per weekly ticket, and $80 per monthly ticket.

It seems that there have been a few attempts by the state to help pay for service though:
http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/f ... atted1.pdf
http://articles.herald-mail.com/2011-01 ... redit-bill
http://www.journal-news.net/page/conten ... l?nav=5006

It's somewhat understandable that WV isn't eager to subsidize the service given that it's the second poorest state in the nation (after MS), but the panhandle residents that commute to DC are definitely among its wealthiest. Also, if MARC cut service to the state the commuters would simply drive to the station in Brunswick, which would cause the parking lot to be overcrowded.

Btw here's the MARC ridership by station for earlier this year:
http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/f ... outs-1.pdf