Steve Burns
WMAL.com
ROCKVILLE – (WMAL) The Montgomery County Council says the remote, low-income community of Tobytown, a cluster of modest housing in the midst of stately Potomac mansions, is being held back by its lack of public transportation. The nearest Ride On bus stop is three miles away, with most residents too poor to own a car. Tuesday, the Council takes up a proposal to bring a bus line to the community that would connect them to schools, libraries and a Metro station.
“There are times when you have to make choices between being fiscally responsible and being socially responsible, and I think this is one of those times where being socially responsible is our highest priority,” Transportation Committee chairman Roger Berliner told WMAL. “It’s not inexpensive, but it does seem appropriate.”
The County projects the shuttle bus line would see about 45 riders per day, and recover less than four percent of its $400,000 annual cost in fares, but Berliner said Tobytown residents deserve the same opportunities as the rest of the county.
“This is an approach that the community’s asked us to take that would treat them like everybody else,” Berliner said. “And they want to be treated like everybody else. It’s a question of dignity.”
In the past, Berliner said, they tried other options, including buying the community a van for them to manage, and a taxi voucher program. Neither were successful.
“We’re open to looking at other options going forward, but quite frankly, this is the only one on the table right now that we have confidence that we can do and would meet the community’s desires and needs,” he said.
The bus service proposed by Berliner run every 60-75 minutes from 6am to 7pm weekdays. He said he would also advocate for weekend service. About 60 people live in Tobytown among the 26 townhouses in the community.
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