Submitted by: Holly Simmons
Submitting Department: Community & Economic Development
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
title
Letter of Support: Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity & Reliability Study (Expanded Metro Rail, Service)
end
Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the City Council authorize the Mayor to send correspondence to the WMATA Board of Directors expressing the City’s general support for expanded rail transit in and around the City of Hyattsville and specific support for Alternatives 3 and 5 as WMATA identifies a Locally-Preferred Alternative (LPA) to inform the NEPA process for the Blue/Orange/Silver Study. The correspondence shall also express the City’s interest in proactively engaging and collaborating with Metro as the project progresses.
end
Summary Background:
WMATA launched the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity & Reliability Study (BOS Study) in early 2019 to identify solutions to long-standing issues and opportunities on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines related to capacity, reliability, equity, and long-term sustainability. Specifically, the three lines run though one tunnel on a single set of tracks when crossing the Potomac between Washington DC and Rosslyn, which creates challenges along these lines.
WMATA has identified six potential infrastructure and operational improvements (or “Alternatives”) to ensure quality service and meet demand along the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.
Although the purpose of the BOS Study is to address needs along the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines (none of which currently serve the City of Hyattsville), two of the Alternatives under consideration (Alternatives 3 and 5) would impact the City more directly than others. Details including specific alignments, station siting, and location of rails in relation to grade are not currently being evaluated.
With those caveats in mind, as currently presented, Alternatives 3 and 5 conceptually result in the addition of a new Metro station along Baltimore Ave/Route 1 in the City of Hyattsville and expansion of service by a Metro line (i.e., the Blue line or Silver line) which does not currently serve the City.
No funding has been committed to the project and implementation is likely a 10- to 20-year process.
Through September 30, 2023, WMATA is collecting public comments on the potential alternatives to help Metro's Board of Directors select a locally-preferred alternative (LPA) prior to entering into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and project development.
Staff recommend submitting correspondence expressing the City’s general support for expanded rail transit to serve the City of Hyattsville, specific support for Alternatives 3 and 5. Additionally, staff recommends that the correspondence also express interest in proactively engaging and collaborating with Metro as the project progresses through review and toward design, particularly should the option for a station within the City of Hyattsville along Route 1 continue to be considered.
On August 29, 2023, the Mayor sent a letter to WMATA expressing support for rail transit and requesting a 30-day extension of the comment period to allow sufficient time for Staff to advise City Council on providing comment. WMATA acknowledged receipt of the letter but no extension has been issued.
Next Steps:
Send correspondence upon approval.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend Council approve general support of expanded rail transit in Hyattsville. More details are expected to follow.
Community Engagement:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 2 - Ensure the Long-Term Economic Viability of the City
Legal Review Required?
N/A