ICC bus at Gaithersburg P&R

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I know the 5A carries airport workers, it was originally meant to be a reverse commuter friendly bus, not a shuttle to the airport.  However, I don't think many airport workers, if any, would use the B30, my guess is most BWI workers are coming from Baltimore, not Washington. 

Are passes accepted on the 5A and B30 despite the higher fares?  If so, an airport worker could use that instead to get a lower fare.

[Scrabbleship]

I know the 5A carries airport workers, it was originally meant to be a reverse commuter friendly bus, not a shuttle to the airport.  However, I don't think many airport workers, if any, would use the B30, my guess is most BWI workers are coming from Baltimore, not Washington.

I've seen people in TSA uniforms on the B30 on more than one case; I don't know if there are floating TSA agents that can be assigned to more than one airport in an area, but this could prove some nominal proof of commuters using the B30.

Are passes accepted on the 5A and B30 despite the higher fares?  If so, an airport worker could use that instead to get a lower fare.

Yes. In the paper pass era, it was pass + difference in [cash] base fare, nowadays with Smartrip passes $4.30 is taken off the declining balance instead of $6.00. Crunching some numbers, the 50 per ride bus-to-rail Smartrip discount pretty much takes away any motivation for a pass though.

[C40LF_2464]

Hey guys, I rode the ICC today, now that was one nice bus ride. Those MCI's are nice and fast. I got on at Gaitherburg and got off at BWI then caught it back.Not alot of people on just me and 2 drivers on the first trip, then on the second bus ride it was me, a driver and one passenger, But anyways here are some pics i got.

[Scrabbleship]

For a route with relatively low ridership, the word of mouth of this route seems to be surprising. I heard two people on an X2 this afternoon talking about the 201 and how it's a far better alternative to the B30 for people on the western end of the Red Line.

[rideonrulez]

I rode #201 today also aboard #174C. Took the 9:05pm from BWI to Shady Grove with a total of 4 passengers with all 4 getting off at Shady Grove. I noticed that the Bus Operator skipped both Burtonsville P&R and the Norbeck P&R.   

[WMAveteran]

I rode the ICC today (March 4, 2011) round-trip from Gaithersburg P & R to BWI Rail Station on 172C.  The coach left Gaithersburg at 9:00 AM with me and two passengers carrying luggage who were flying Southwest from BWI.  We arrived at BWI Marshall at 10:00 AM (almost 10 minutes early) even with stops at Shady Grove and Norbeck and Burtonsville P & R.   The coach still has the "new vehicle" smell and the passenger compartment is well insulated from engine sounds.  At highway speeds the engine is almost silent inside the coach.  The coaches have 57 seats, a restroom, Cummins engines, Allison transmissions, electronic stability control, automatic traction control, ABS and 6-wheel disc brakes.  There is a designated spot for Route 201 only directly in front of the BWI Rail Station. 

On the return trip the coach (172C) left BWI Rail Station at 11:00 AM and we picked up one passenger at BWI Marshall who alighted at Shady Grove and like "rideonrulez" observed we did not stop at either Norbeck or Burtonsville P & R.  Apparently, the drivers only stop there if there is a request on the return trip because the coach does not carry local passengers.  The return trip arrived at Gaithersburg P & R almost 15 minutes early. 

The real historic element of this new service is that the City of Gaithersburg receives its transit "props" for the first by having a transit route that has "Gaithersburg" as the actual destination sign.  Every other transit route that serves Gaithersburg has a destination sign that never mentions the city's name (e.g., Lakeforest, Shady Grove, Kentlands) even though Gaithersburg is the third largest incorporated city in the state after Baltimore and Rockville.  Prior to this even Germantown had a destination sign on transit routes and Germantown is not even an incorporated city - it's a zip code!   This service rocks on so many levels! 

[WMAveteran]

There is substantial under-floor space for luggage that will not fit in the inside overhead bins.  The under-floor space is accessed through the side doors under the windows just like intercity coaches.  When MTA advertised the service I read that drivers will assist with storing and retrieving luggage from the under-floor space.   Here is another photograph also. You can see the handles for under-floor luggage access on the side under the"with ease" words on the wrap. 

This is interesting.  I thought they don't usually allow drivers to help out of liability concerns.  Also, am I right in thinking that the compartments on NJT's OTR coaches are locked for security purposes?

Here is a quote on luggage policy from the MTA schedule for the 201: "Bus drivers are required to assist passengers in the loading and unloading of luggage in the baggage compartment at each stop.  This assistance includes opening and securing of the baggage bay doors and lifting items from the curb into the bus and from the bus back to the curb.  Drivers shall make every effort to separate baggage by destination to expedite the unloading time at the drop off points." 

[btconet]

The real historic element of this new service is that the City of Gaithersburg receives its transit "props" for the first by having a transit route that has "Gaithersburg" as the actual destination sign.  Every other transit route that serves Gaithersburg has a destination sign that never mentions the city's name (e.g., Lakeforest, Shady Grove, Kentlands) even though Gaithersburg is the third largest incorporated city in the state after Baltimore and Rockville.  Prior to this even Germantown had a destination sign on transit routes and Germantown is not even an incorporated city - it's a zip code!   This service rocks on so many levels! 

I'd think "GAITHERSBURG VIA SHADY GROVE METRO" might be a bit more telling though.  Some people might not really know what Gaithersburg is, while others may know it, but don't know that the service is linking to the DC Metro, and think it only stops in some disconnected place in G-burg. 

[WayneNYC]

I think that's a good point.  I imagine for both the #201 & 202,  they'd definitely want to promote the fact that it serves a Metro station.  On the website's main page it promotes the service as serving BWI and Fort Meade, but they probably should've made mention of the routes also serving the Shady Grove station.  I saw some what I interpreted as good sign last week at Shady Grove.  Last Tuesday I rode Metrorail home and while waiting for the 61 bus, a #201 came through and it definitely caught the attention of many people.

[Tritransit Area]

I highly agree - in fact, that's why I had to ask if it even went to Shady Grove Metro.   The scheme is definitely eye-catching, though.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

The real historic element of this new service is that the City of Gaithersburg receives its transit "props" for the first by having a transit route that has "Gaithersburg" as the actual destination sign.  Every other transit route that serves Gaithersburg has a destination sign that never mentions the city's name (e.g., Lakeforest, Shady Grove, Kentlands) even though Gaithersburg is the third largest incorporated city in the state after Baltimore and Rockville.  Prior to this even Germantown had a destination sign on transit routes and Germantown is not even an incorporated city - it's a zip code!   This service rocks on so many levels! 

I'd think "GAITHERSBURG VIA SHADY GROVE METRO" might be a bit more telling though.  Some people might not really know what Gaithersburg is, while others may know it, but don't know that the service is linking to the DC Metro, and think it only stops in some disconnected place in G-burg. 

IAWTP

[WayneNYC]

Today was my turn to take a ride on the #201.  I did a roundtrip on #169C.  The bus was indeed very quick to get up to speed, very quiet and still had the new smell.  I boarded at Gaithersburg P & R.  There were 5 passengers heading toward BWI.  I rode to the BWI Rail station and watched a bit of NEC action until 169C returned for the return trip.  On the way back we were about to exit I-95 at MD 32 when the B/O spotted lots of traffic on the ramp and he went down to the next exit (MD 216).  On this trip was skipped Burtonsville and Norbeck P & R.  There were 4 passengers on the return trip.  Two pasengers got off at Shady Grove station.  Myself and another guy who was taking a joy ride rode back to the Gaithersburg P & R.  Very nice ride and I'm looking forward to using this service.   

[79MetroExtraMD]

I took my ride on the 201 this afternoon to avoid taking the Penn Line. Rode 170C from Shady Grove to BWI. I was the sole person on the bus the entire trip. It was a pretty nice ride and got to see the ICC (Phase I) upclose. The ride was pretty smooth and got a chance to get some vid and some audio which I'll upload later. I snapped a shot of 169C coming into SG a little before 3pm.

169C at Shady Grove