SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29
(By Senators Snyder, Unger, Helmick, Barnes, Deem and Plymale)
Requesting the Governor's assistance in securing the future use of
the MARC commuter train service in Jefferson and Berkeley
counties
.
Whereas, The MARC commuter train service to Washington, D. C.
from Jefferson and Berkeley counties provides convenient and
affordable transportation to some 550 West Virginia citizens each
weekday; and
Whereas, Those West Virginia citizens employed in the
Washington, D. C. area pay West Virginia payroll withholding taxes;
and
Whereas, Those West Virginia citizens contribute approximately
$40 million directly into the economy of Jefferson and Berkeley
counties as well as the state as a whole; and
Whereas, The MARC commuter train service to Jefferson and
Berkeley counties has been a valuable asset for economic health and
development for those counties for the last two decades; and
Whereas, The MARC commuter train service to West Virginia has
been subsidized by the Maryland taxpayers by the Maryland Road
Fund; and
Whereas, The state of Maryland is experiencing significant
budget problems and has required the Maryland Transit Administration to review its future subsidy for the MARC commuter
train service into West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Maryland Transit Administration in February,
2009, added an extra fee to the West Virginia citizens boarding the
MARC train in West Virginia, amounting to $2 per trip, $20 per week
and $80 per month; and
Whereas, After the imposition of the additional West Virginia
ticket fees, a significant number of West Virginia citizens have
stopped boarding the train in West Virginia and the total expected
revenue from the ticket increase will not meet revenue expectations
for the Maryland Transit Administration; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Governor's assistance
in securing the future use of the MARC commuter train service in
Jefferson and Berkeley counties; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Division of Highways
is to have the MARC commuter train service to Jefferson and
Berkeley counties be made part of the statewide Intermodal
Transportation Plan for West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Department of
Transportation is to seek all available state and federal funds for
the preservation and continuation of the MARC commuter train
service; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor and
the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.