OC Today-Dispaatch OCTOBER 18, 2024
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
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PRICELESS
Tram service on Boardwalk out next year? Recruitment of operators on hold, as council, staff decide how or whether popular service will roll next summer. — Page 6
New Buckingham Elem. funding pledged by state A memorandum of understanding between county, school board and state means new school will be built after all. — Page 74
Court to commissioners: explain vote on re-zoning After majority vote rejects request from Snow Hill antique store, judge tells officials they NORTHERN LIGHTS The aurora borealis, rarely seen this far south, lights up Assateague last week courtesy of a major solar storm. need to say why. — Page 22 PHOTO COURTESY JP CATHELL PHOTOGRAPHY
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OC Today-Dispatch
OCTOBER 18, 2024
OCTOBER 18, 2024
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OC Today-Dispatch
City may alter bus fare for non-resident senior riders
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Oct. 18, 2024) Members of a resort committee this week supported a recommendation to do away with halfpriced bus fare for non-resident seniors. In June, Transit Manager Rob Shearman presented the Ocean City Transportation Committee with a recommendation to amend the city’s policy on half-priced bus fare for nonresidents ages 60 and older. While staff said they wanted to continue to provide that service, they recommended eliminating the need to administer a physical bus pass to do so. When the committee opted to take no action, the recommendation was brought to the Mayor and Council for discussion. However, the recommendation gained no traction at the council level either, and the policy remained unchanged throughout the summer season. Back on the agenda this week, Shearman told transportation committee members he wanted to revisit the policy now that the summer season had passed. He noted that from Memorial Day to Labor Day, only 113 non-residents had applied to receive a senior bus pass at the four distribution locations throughout town. “It’s not really a heavily utilized policy,” he said. Shearman noted the town’s policies and procedures manual lays out certain provisions for senior bus passes. First, it provides Ocean City residents and property owners ages 60 and older with free bus fare. Second, it provides nonresidents ages 60 and older with half-priced bus fare. Both require those eligible to obtain a bus pass.
Shearman added there is also a federally imposed policy that bus riders 65 and older are entitled to half-priced fare without the need for a special card. He said the city should consider implementing that same no-card policy for non-resident bus riders ages 60 and older. “My recommendation is we continue offering the policy of half fare to nonresidents 60 and older, but that we eliminate the requirement for them to go to one of these four locations and get a card verifying that eligibility,” he said. “I think we could verify the eligibility on the bus the same way that we verify those 65 the older presently.” However, both Councilwoman Carol Proctor and Mayor Rick Meehan said they did not support a change that required bus drivers to take on the added task of verifying the age of non-resident riders. Meehan then suggested that the town do away with the non-resident senior bus passes altogether. “If we only have 113 people getting the card, why don’t we just give the break to Ocean City residents 60 or older, and everybody else it’s’ 65 and older,” he said. “They follow the federal guidelines.” Shearman said he would support that recommendation, as it would reduce the amount of paperwork employees are tasked with at the four distribution locations. “It would still reduce the paperwork burden for these four places, to have this thing to keep track of and train their staff on, for something that’s not well utilized,” he said. After further discussion, officials agreed to move forward with the recommendation.
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