1144                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 670

(b)   Any one, or two or more, of the mass transportation systems
operating in the Area to establish reasonable through-routes.

(c)  Any two or more of the mass transportation systems operating
in the Area to establish and observe reasonable and just joint fares,
and in connection therewith to establish just, reasonable, and
equitable divisions thereof between the said transportation systems
participating therein which shall not unduly prefer or prejudice any
of such transportation systems so participating.

(d)  Any two or more of the mass transportation systems operating
in the Area to establish and observe reasonable and just transfer
privileges from any one of the mass transportation systems par-
ticipating therein to any one or more of the other such transportation
systems participating in any such plan; and any such transfer plan
shall not unduly prefer or prejudice any of the participating trans-
portation systems.

(e)   Any mass transportation system operating in the Area to
provide service for which there is an immediate and urgent need to
a point or points within a prescribed territory within the Area having
no mass transportation services capable of meeting such need. NO
SUCH ORDER SHALL BE GIVEN WHEN THE EFFECT OF
SUCH ORDER WOULD BE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION
TO AN AREA NOT BEING SERVICED BECAUSE OF A LABOR
DISPUTE.

(f)   Any mass transportation system operating in the Area, if
the public convenience and necessity so require, to extend any existing
service or provide any additional service over additional routes with-
in the Area; provided, however, that no permit shall be issued to
operate over the routes of any holder of any permit until it shall be
proved to the satisfaction of the Authority after public hearing, upon
reasonable notice, that the service rendered by such permit holder,
over such route, is inadequate for the requirements of the public
necessity and convenience; and provided, further, if the Authority
is of the opinion that the service rendered by such permit holder over
such route is in any respect inadequate for the requirements of the
public necessity and convenience, such permit holder shall be given
reasonable time and opportunity to remedy such inadequacy before
any permit shall be granted to any other legal entity to operate over
such route.

(g)    Provided, however, that any mass transportation system
operating in the Area shall not be required to do any of the things
or provide the service or extend any existing service or provide any
additional service as mentioned in sub-sections (b), (c), (d), (e), or
(f) of this section unless the mass transportation system affected
or involved earns a reasonable return on its operation as a whole in
performing mass transportation which is subject to the provisions of
this Article. In determining whether or not a mass transportation
system is earning a reasonable return on its operation as a whole,
the prudent operating ratio formula, where applicable, may be used
as a standard.

(H) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
THIS ARTICLE TO THE CONTRARY, ANY PROPOSAL FOR
EXTENSION OR CHANGE OF ROUTES IN OR INTO BALTI-
MORE COUNTY BY ANY TRANSIT SYSTEM OWNED AND