(The following story by Jenni Vincent appeared on the Journal-News website on March 18, 2009.)
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Two Eastern Panhandle legislators are spearheading efforts in Charleston to ensure the MARC train’s future and its accessibility to local commuters.
Sens. Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson, and John Unger, D-Berkeley, are lead sponsors on two bills introduced this week. One is a resolution focusing on MARC, and the other is a bill aimed at providing some economic relief to the Maryland Transit Administration, which funds the commuter rail service.
In the end, Snyder hopes commuters will benefit in a couple of different ways – which could include seeing their fares reduced once a final compromise is reached.
“We’ve definitely got folks’ attention in Charleston, the way we’ve rolled in at full steam with these two bills aimed at saving the MARC train,” Snyder said Tuesday in a telephone interview.
Since state intervention is necessary to save MARC, Snyder said that was the basis for Senate Bill 607, which is known as the Commuter Rail Access Act.
It would “basically provide free rail access to MARC commuter trains in West Virginia,” he said.
“The Maryland Transit Administration currently pays $492,560 per year to CSX Railroad in track access fees for the miles of track in Jefferson and Berkeley counties, for use of those tracks between Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg,” Snyder said.
However this bill, if passed into law, would reduce Maryland’s operating cost in West Virginia by that amount, he said.
“Under provisions of the bill, CSX would be given a tax credit against their corporate net income tax in an amount equal to the track access fees for the miles of track that MARC commuter trains travel in West Virginia,” Snyder said, adding that CSX officials have already expressed their approval of the proposal.
Snyder said he got the idea for this bill after attending a December meeting in Baltimore that included representatives from both West Virginia and Maryland.
“It occurred to me as I was thinking about all the different train costs, including fuel, employees and track access fees,” he said.
The Maryland Transit Administration is experiencing significant budget problems, which first led officials to reconsider commuter train service and fares to Eastern Panhandle riders, Snyder said.
It also led to a recent $2 fare increase per trip for West Virginia riders, he said.
Snyder said finding a permanent solution such as the proposed tax credit may be enough to satisfy Maryland officials, who’ve indicated a willingness to reconsider fares.
“If we get this done, MTA has said they would be willing to either consider a reduction of the ticket increase or offer a discount on monthly tickets,” he said.
Snyder predicted that the legislation will pass, based on the support that other legislators have shown.
“I think part of the reason other legislators are so supportive is that they realize the impact it will have if we lose the only commuter train in the state, especially on future plans such as a potential one to develop a commuter train between Huntington and Charleston,” he said.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, which was also introduced Monday, seeks to accomplish two goals, since it “describes the benefits of the MARC train service” to the area, Snyder said.
But it also notes “the challenges that the commuter rail service faces today and in future years,” he said.
The resolution asks Gov. Joe Manchin and the state Department of Transportation “to support the MARC commuter service through direct state support and by efforts to secure federal funding for the service,” Snyder said.
Both pieces of legislation were referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which is chaired by Unger.
Unger said he is especially excited by the proposed tax credit because it will save Maryland approximately a half-million dollars, “essentially making it so that they don’t have to pay by coming into West Virginia.”
He also believes it may help encourage additional commuter rail service.
“The really brilliant part is that it can encourage both MTA and CSX to extend service to Hancock, Md., near Berkeley Springs, because it would be less expensive for them to do so,” Unger said.
“This sets up an environment where we can save MARC service into Martinsburg and then possibly extend that service to Hancock Island,” he said.
As committee chairman, Unger said his role is to “evaluate proposals and decide that it is good policy.”
He doesn’t have any fiscal or appropriation power, which is why this type of bill is also sent to the Senate Finance Committee, where funding decisions are made, Unger said.
Since his committee meets again Friday morning, Unger believes both the bill and resolution will be on the agenda for discussion.
“If committee members vote it up, it will go to the Finance Committee, where they will look at the money part,” Unger said.
Another area legislator, Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, is also on his committee and has been an important advocate in the fight for MARC, he said.
“This isn’t a partisan issue. Sen. Barnes, who represents a portion of Berkeley County not directly tied to this subject, has been excellent working on behalf of MARC and is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution,” Unger said.