Town of Chevy Chase Nixes Shuttle Bus Proposal

Both a proposed shuttle bus service and a proposed taxi reimbursement program were voted down by the Town of Chevy Chase Council on Wednesday, June 12, according to a council meeting report from the Town of Chevy Chase.

After a public hearing on transportation services for seniors, council members voted, 3 to 2, against a motion to institute a 6-month trial for a shuttle bus service, and voted unanimously against a motion to approve a taxi reimbursement program for seniors, according to the meeting report.

The taxi reimbursement program was proposed to reimburse the town's senior residents (age 67 and older) for taxi fares, up to $30 a month per person. Cost estimates were difficult to determine, but "assuming 50 senior residents take advantage of this service, it would cost approximately $18,000 per year," the town reported.

The shuttle bus service, as proposed, would have connected the Town of Chevy Chase and downtown Bethesda from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. The service would have been primarily for senior citizens, but all town residents would have been permitted to ride. The service was estimated to cost about $70,000 a year for one bus (running every hour) or about $132,000 a year for two buses (with buses running every 30 minutes), according to an information sheet published by the town.

The council also had considered expanding the shuttle bus trial program to cover commuting hours—thereby running the bus or buses from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. That would have cost $214,461 a year for one bus (running every hour) or $428,922 a year for two buses (with buses running every 30 minutes). That option was not under consideration at the June 12 public meeting and council meeting and vote.

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Also on June 12, the Town of Chevy Chase Council held a public meeting on instituting a backdoor, single-stream recycling service. Council members voted unanimously to approve the service, according to a town report. Details on the service are being developed.