Maryland Transportation Section 7-506

      (a)      Until a public hearing is held on the matter, the Administration may not:

            (1)      Fix or revise any fare or rate charged the general public; or

            (2)      Establish or abandon any route.

      (b)      (1)      The following persons may request the Administration to hold a hearing on any rentals, rates, fares, fees, or other charges of the Administration or any service rendered by the transit facilities owned or controlled by the Administration:

                  (i)      Any person served by or using the transit facilities;

                  (ii)      The People's Counsel to the Public Service Commission, as a representative of the general public; and

                  (iii)      Any private carrier operating in the District.

            (2)      The request for a hearing shall:

                  (i)      Be in writing;

                  (ii)      State the matter sought to be heard; and

                  (iii)      Set forth clearly the grounds for the request.

            (3)      As soon as possible after the Administration receives a request for a hearing, a designated employee of the Administration shall confer on the matter with the person requesting the hearing. After the conference, if the Administration considers the matter meritorious and of general significance, it may call a hearing.

      (c)      (1)      The Administration shall give at least 30 days notice before a hearing.

            (2)      The notice shall be:

                  (i)      Published once a week for 2 successive weeks in two or more newspapers of daily circulation throughout the District; and

                  (ii)      Posted in all of the Administration's offices, stations, and terminals and all of its vehicles and rolling stock in revenue service.

            (3)      The 30-day period begins when the notice first appears in the newspaper.

      (d)      Before calling a hearing under this section, the Administration shall file at its main office and make available for public inspection:

            (1)      Its report on the subject matter of the hearing;

            (2)      Any report received from the Public Service Commission under § 7-507 of this subtitle; and

            (3)      If the hearing was requested under subsection (b) of this section, the written request for the hearing and all documents filed in support of it.

      (e)      If the People's Counsel to the Public Service Commission considers the public interest to be involved, the People's Counsel shall appear and represent the public interest at each hearing called by the Administration under this section.