422                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 160

31. 30. Coordination of service.

(a)    Action by Public Service Commission.

In order to carry out the legislative policy set forth in Section 29
of this Article, the Public Service Commission

(1)    shall not grant any application, or any part thereof, for an
operating permit or license, or renewal thereof, unless it finds, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, that the route to be served and
the service to be performed pursuant to said application, or any part
thereof, will conform to the legislative policy set forth in Section 29
of this Article;

(2)    upon application, complaint, or upon its own motion shall
(i) direct private carriers to coordinate their schedules for service
with the schedules for service performed by transit facilities owned
or controlled by the Authority; (ii) direct private carriers to im-
prove or extend any existing service or to provide additional service
over additional routes; (iii) authorize a private carrier, pursuant
to agreement between said carrier and the Authority, to establish
and maintain through routes and joint fares for transportation to be
rendered with transit facilities owned or controlled by the Authority
and otherwise integrate its service with the service performed by
the facilities owned or controlled by the Authority if, after notice
and opportunity for hearing, it finds that such through routes and
joint fares are required by the public interest; and (iv) in the
absence of such an agreement with the Authority, direct a private
carrier to establish and maintain through routes and joint fares
with the Authority, if, after notice and opportunity for hearing, it
finds that such through service and joint fares are required by the
public interest; provided, however, that the Public Service Com-
mission shall not authorize or require a private carrier to render
any service, including the establishment or continuation of a joint
fare for a through route with the Authority which is based on a
division thereof between the Authority and private carrier which
does not provide a reasonable return to the private carrier, unless
the private carrier is currently earning a reasonable return on its
operation as a whole in performing transportation subject to the
jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission and, in determining
the issue of reasonable return, the Public Service Commission shall
take into account any income attributable to the carrier, or to any
corporation, firm or association owned in whole or in part by the
private carrier, from the Authority whether by way of payment for
services or otherwise; provided, further, that no such order, rule or
regulation of the Public Service Commission shall be construed to
require the Authority to establish and maintain any through route
and joint fare.

(b)  &