(5/2023) Last month on April 1st, I was happy to take two bus rides to areas in Frederick County that will now have expanded Saturday shuttle service. Residents living in Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Jefferson, and Brunswick can now access round-trip shuttle buses that depart from the Transit Center in downtown Frederick. In the morning, I joined Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird and Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs for one of the first trips on the Thurmont/Emmitsburg route. There were already some passengers using the new service that morning and we enjoyed hearing about how the expanded service will impact their lives.
Frederick County is the largest county in Maryland by area and it’s difficult to get around the county without a car. This expansion will create opportunities for senior residents and those with disabilities to have more independence to attend appointments, shop for necessities, and take part in recreational activities. With a new stop at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Mount students will be able to travel into The City of Frederick for the day to dine in a great restaurant or just take a walk along the Carroll Creek promenade. Frederick residents will be able to travel to Colorfest in Thurmont in the fall and not have to worry about parking.
In the afternoon, I rode the Brunswick/Jefferson route that also originates at the Transit Center. I got to talk with some regular passengers who were excited about the Saturday service, and a couple of new riders. I learned a couple of important things to share while talking with Transit staff throughout the day. First, did you know that you can hail a Transit bus to stop and pick you up, if the trip is within the historic district in downtown Frederick? You don’t have to be at a bus stop. Also, anyone can request to use the accessibility lift service to get on the bus. You don’t have to pre-arrange anything and you don’t have to prove a disability.
The staff at Transit Services continues to expand and elevate the public transportation experience in Frederick County. And it’s still fare free to ride for 2023 and 2024!
Sustainability
As the County Council liaison to the Sustainability Commission, I joined the Commission on April 19th to honor recipients during their 2023 Sustainability Awards program. We were proud to recognize students from Middletown, Oakdale, and Urbana for their work to keep school cafeteria waste out of the county landfill. Students who participate in a Lunch out of Landfills program at their school recruit other students who are interested in sustainability to mentor and together they set up sorting stations in the school cafeteria to separate discarded items into categories that include: food that is wrapped and unopened, a bucket for liquids, a bucket for organic matter that can be composted, recyclable materials, and trash.
These efforts divert a large volume of waste away from the landfill. Additionally, students learn to work together and to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday routines. The honorees were also recognized for their advocacy for state funding from Annapolis so the program can be expanded.
Budget Hearings
The County Council received the proposed 2024 Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets from County Executive Jessica Fitzwater on April 14th, and the Council held a public hearing on the budget on April 25th.
After the hearing, we will have Budget Workshops on May 3rd, May 4th, and May 5th. The workshops are from 9:00am-4:00pm at Winchester Hall and they will be open to the public. If you have any questions about the proposed 2024 budget, or would still like to offer public comment, you can email me at rknapp@frederickcountymd.gov. You can also reach the entire County Council by sending your email to councilmembers@frederickcountymd.gov.
Hopefully by the time you are reading this, Frederick County will have received some much needed rain to help local farmers with the start of the growing season.
Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day!
