County Urges Continued Support For Expanded Code Red Ride Free Service During Ozone Season

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

ba/ozone.pr 98-168

Contact:Bonnie Ayers, 301-217-6530
Jim Caldwell, 301-217-2355; Carolyn Biggins, 301-217-2184
For Immediate Release: May 29, 1998

COUNTY URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT
FOR EXPANDED CODE RED RIDE
FREE SERVICE DURING OZONE SEASON

With the start of another ozone season, Montgomery County officials are urging State and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials to continue their financial support for the Code Red-Ride Free program which provides free rides for Ride On users during days of high levels of harmful ozone (Code Red days).

In a letter to WMATA General Manager Richard White, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan urged that the Code Red transit initiative be implemented in FY '99 on a region- wide basis. The program is now in effect on Metrobus and local bus systems in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

"Last summer was the first time that free bus rides were offered all day in the Maryland suburbs during Code Red pollution alerts," Duncan explained in his letter. "During the first five days the alert was in effect, our Ride On system, alone, experienced a 20 percent increase in ridership.

" Clearly," the letter continued, "residents concerned about clean air found bus riding an acceptable alternative during these pollution alerts." Duncan went on to encourage adoption of the Code Red ride Free principle on all Metrobus routes throughout the region. "WMATA," he wrote, "should take a leadership role by applying at least the Code Red policy to all Metrobus service in the region, and through the Regional Transit Council, encourage the other locally managed bus systems to do likewise."

County Director of Public Works and Transportation Graham Norton made a similar request to the state for Code Red funding -- in a letter to Carmina Perez-Fowler, manger of the Washington Area transit Programs for the Maryland Department of Transportation. The total for allowing Ride On to maintain the FY 98 level of Code Red Ride Free service is $138,000, according to Norton's letter (The total would also include costs for a similar Code White program to be implemented during winter months.)

Two other County officials also lobbied another audience for support of ozone-action programs. Writing to local health care providers, County Health Officer Dr. Carol Garvey and Director of Environmental Protection James Caldwell called attention to the County's awareness campaign which calls attention to the health risks during the summer ground-level ozone season.

They called special attention to the fact that one portion of the daily smog level forecasts has been upgraded -- with Code Orange now indicating a "Moderately Unhealthy" situation (up from the previous "Approaching Unhealthy" designation).

For more information or to receive materials about the County's ozone action program, call Bernard Bloom or Joe Keyser at 301-217-2177.

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