Silverblog: Silver Spring Transit Center to move forward

The following is a press release from the Montgomery County Planning Board, dated July 12, 2007. —ed.

Resolving an important issue about a parkland easement on the site of the Silver Spring Transit Center—a proposed hub for Metro trains, buses, taxis and bicycles in the community’s downtown—the Montgomery County Planning Board today worked out an agreement with two public works agencies that allows the project to proceed.

The Board, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, owns an easement on a public plaza that they needed to abandon to allow construction of the transit center, slated for Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue at the site of the existing Silver Spring Metro station. Yesterday, the Board agreed to let the county Department of Public Works and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority replace that plaza in exchange for two new parks.

The agreement, encapsulated in a Memorandum of Understanding, was several weeks in coming. The Board agreed to exchange its 35,000-square-foot Metro Urban Park for an 11,633-square-foot park at the transit plaza entrance and an 11,590-square-foot park just off site. Board members indicated they were willing to accept less parkland in exchange for higher-quality design and materials in the parks as well as to advance the project and its expected benefits for Silver Spring-area residents and commuters.

In the agreement, the Board made it clear that it expects the county and WMATA to build all of what it deems “essential elements” for the transit center, such as glass canopies over the escalators and pedestrian areas, large shade trees, and attractive sidewalk pavers and light fixtures that are consistent with the surrounding downtown. If budget shortfalls preclude the public works agencies from building those elements, commissioners indicated they wanted the Board and the agencies to work together to secure additional funding from the federal or state governments and/or the Montgomery County Council.

“I’m very hopeful that County Executive Leggett will make it clear that these are important items that deserve funding and that the project proceeds as it has been presented to the public,” said Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson. “We’re trying to get what it seems everyone wants.”

The Board considered the transit center in early June in a second mandatory referral hearing. The mandatory referral process requires the Planning Board and its professional planning staff to review and make recommendations about such issues as safety, design and architectural treatments for public projects.

Today’s agreement allows the project to move forward. County officials will seek construction bids for the transit center later this summer.

Silverblog

News, announcements, and issues related to Silver Spring, Maryland—sponsored by the Silver Spring Voice.

Silver Spring Transit Center to move forward

Comments

Post a comment