Gov. Jim Justice has agreed to provide the remaining funding Maryland officials requested to keep the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) in the Eastern Panhandle at its current service. The governor is also hopeful to expand the service to promote tourism in the region.
After months of uncertainty, Gov. Jim Justice, along with Eastern Panhandle municipalities, have pulled together the remaining $2.3 million to keep the MARC train running in West Virginia at six trains per weekday.
The announcement was made Thursday at a press conference at the Martinsburg Train Station.
The $2.3 million joins $1.1 million the West Virginia Legislature already provided during the 2019 session.
The governor said in a press release that he’s grateful to everyone who worked together to provide the funding needed to “keep this vital connection between our state and Washington D.C. alive.”
Gov. Justice and West Virginia leaders are in ongoing contract negotiations with the Maryland Transit Administration to reach a multi-year agreement.
The governor has also directed Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby to research and pursue increasing tourism-related MARC train ridership in West Virginia.