Community blocks Baltimore bus cuts

Community anger and protests have blocked a plan to cut bus service in Baltimore city. The plan would have left thousands of low-wage workers without access to jobs in the surrounding county and stranded seniors and the poor without transportation.

The original plan, called Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative, would have cut Baltimore bus routes by 14 percent and taken 90 buses a day off the streets during peak evening hours. Its implementation was also planned to take place on the anniversary of the Million Man March and the Million Worker March, this Oct. 16—a fact noted by community organizations.

Renee Washington, a community organizer with the All Peoples Congress, was excited. She stated, “This would not have happened if we had not threatened to boycott and shut the buses down if the MTA implemented this plan. It was outrageous. We collected hundreds of names on petitions, distributed thousands of fliers, and have received dozens of letters and calls from riders who wanted to organize.”

Both the All Peoples Congress and the Baltimore NAACP had called for major protests and picket lines in August, with the intention of organizing direct resistance in October. The Amalgamated Transit Workers, representing the bus drivers, along with community groups also charged the state with racism because this plan overwhelmingly impacted African American riders.

Washington added, “We will continue to protest. This is a victory but we expect that the state will try to phase in partial cuts in early spring. We are being watchful and are continuing to mobilize.”