Federal rule change results in chaos for fans used to taking the bus to FedEx

By Nate Sandstrom

For those traveling to FedEx Field this year, they no longer have the buses that run from the Landover Metro to the stadium for $6. The MTA bus service to Ravens games (and apparently many other teams) is also affected as new federal guidelines now prohibit government agencies (like Metro, the Maryland Transit Administration) from offering the service when private companies also to do so.

I'm trying to find a news article that explains this all, but I remember reading about it early this spring. My recollection is that private companies argued that it was unfair that public entities were subsidizing the cost of transporting people to stadiums and made it impossible for them offer competitive rates.

Sounds fair enough, but here's the net effect: The Redskins said in a press release they looked into offering the service through a private company and the $6 fee would increase to $20. The 'Skins decided not to bother at that point. I'm not sure what the Ravens are doing.

So now you either have to start driving — further clogging the roads, spewing more CO2 in the air and burning more gasoline — or take the Metro Blue Line to the Morgan Boulevard station and walk (that's what I did).

Last night, for a preseason game, the trains were packed, kids were crying and there was much confusion. I guarantee this will be a disaster on Sept. 14.

Some helpful tips from my experience:

• Leave early.

• It took about 20 minutes to walk to the stadium once I reached the stop; it could've been quicker but the sidewalks are not built to handle the amount of foot traffic the games draw.

• Some guys were trying to sell water for like $4 a bottle right outside the stop, but there are many people selling for $1 a bottle along the way. No one was selling food, but one couple was selling Bud and Bud Light from their front yard for $3 each or two for $5. Don't know how long 'til police shut that down.

• If you go from New Carrollton, use the bathroom there. You won't see one again until the Port-A-Potties outside the stadium.