MTA extends evening bus hours for students

The Maryland Transportation Authority has extended the expiration time of student bus tickets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. so that more students can participate in after-school activities. The extension is the result of efforts by Maryland Legal Aid’s Youth Achieving Potential Project, a coalition of student activists, the Baltimore Algebra Project and City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke.

“We were successful in persuading Paul Wiedefeld, the director of the MTA, to extend the time as a pilot project for the months of April and May,” said Michelle Kurta, a Maryland Legal Aid paralegal who works in the project. “Last week the Mr. Wiedefeld announced that the extension has been successful and that he will expand the pilot into policy for the 2009-10 school year. This is a wonderful student-led victory and was a great experience for the young advocates in YAPP’s Youth Council.” For more information, call Kurta at 443/451-2812.