Bill > SB947

This bill establishes a new Board of Directors for Baltimore Core Transit Service within the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to govern local bus, light rail, metro subway, and paratransit services in the Baltimore area, with members appointed by the Governor, the Mayor of Baltimore City, and county executives, and includes provisions for a student member and non-voting ex officio members like the Secretary of Transportation and the MTA Administrator. It also creates a Commuter Services Advisory Board to provide guidance on the MTA's MARC commuter train and commuter bus services, with members appointed by the Governor, including the Secretary of Transportation, residents from service areas, and representatives for riders with accessibility challenges and unionized employees of commuter service contractors. The bill repeals the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, which previously served as an advisory body for transit in the Baltimore region, and also makes changes to how the Maryland Transportation Commission determines qualifications, appointments, and compensation for certain management personnel positions within the MTA. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for initial staggered terms for the new boards and mandates a technical study on the creation of a rail authority in Maryland, while ensuring current rail transit services remain with the MTA and that funding for a statewide rail authority does not negatively impact funding for Baltimore Core Transit Services.