New Topics on MindMixer – We Want to Hear from You!

February 26th, 2013

WMATA_ An Online Conversation for the Future by MindMixer

Thank you for all for your valued contributions on MindMixer over the past several months. All of your comments and ideas have been reviewed to see what improvements we can begin to undertake and plan for and many have been incorporated into Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro, our strategic plan. We also appreciate your continued patience while we developed new topics.Blue Momentum Cover

We’re happy to announce that new topics are open! We want to hear from you on the staff draft of Momentum and initiatives for Metro 2025 so that we can maximize our existing system. Additionally, for the cartographers out there, there is a question about proposed changes to the Metrorail map in advance of the Silver Line opening later this year. So please log back on and let us know what you think. If you haven’t joined the conversation, please do! We want to hear from you and we’re listening.

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  1. Jane Doe
    March 7th, 2013 at 15:12 | #1

    I would like to know if Metro has any plans to build a subway system towards the Southern area of Maryland? Areas such as LaPlata, Waldorf, St. Mary’s County. The commuter bus system in those areas are just terrible. They break down; not working, or if there is an accident, one doesn’t get home until 2 or 3 hours after getting off from work. Inquiring minds would like to know.

  2. Allison Davis
    March 8th, 2013 at 08:53 | #2

    The Maryland Transit Administration studied transit options along the 5/301 corridor to Charles County. The final report is here: http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/final_report.pdf. Due to densities and ridership, heavy rail like Metro would be a tough sell. However, as part of Metro’s 2040 Regional Transit System Plan, we have modeled either light rail or bus rapid transit to Charles County as outlined in the MTA report above. I’d recommend letting MTA know of your support for better transit in that corridor.

  3. Edward Leeds
    March 23rd, 2013 at 10:36 | #3

    The new McLean metro station could be accessible by more pedestrians if some sidewalks were extended and/or cross walks were placed at key locations. I haven’t seen any information on pedestrian access other than the pedestrian bridges built at the metro stations. Is making walking easier to Metro stations part of the current implementation or are the new bus routes the only solutions being funded?

  4. William Wurtz
    April 15th, 2013 at 06:49 | #4

    Dear Mind Mixer,
    I was Amtracking to and from Philladelphia this past weekend and was wondering if the Green line was ever thought to eventually connect to BWI. I was pleased with the thought of in the near accessing all three of DC’s airports by rail.

  5. Allison Davis
    April 15th, 2013 at 09:06 | #5

    Edward, Sorry for not responding sooner. Just to clarify – Metro is not building the Silver Line. We will operate it, but the Airports Authority (MWAA) is building it, with support from Fairfax County and Virginia. Though that doesn’t actually answer your question! Fairfax County will be responsible for access to the station(s), which means they will be fixing, building, improving pedestrian and bike access. They completed a Station Access Management Study in 2010 (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/tmams/tmsams_final_report.pdf). Page 15 onward discusses the sidewalk and crosswalk priorities. Additionally, here’s information about Fairfax’ pedestrian program: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pedestrian/ and opportunities to have your voice heard.

  6. Allison Davis
    April 15th, 2013 at 09:42 | #6

    William, thanks for your thoughts on extending to BWI. This idea also was posted on MindMixer by a few people, so here is my response:

    If we had a nickel for every time someone mentioned extending service to BWI, we could build the extension to BWI! Have you tried the B30 from Greenbelt? It runs every 40 minutes weekdays and weekends. Here’s the schedule: http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/b30.pdf?n MARC’s Long-Range Growth and Investment Plan also calls for additional off-peak, weekend and reverse-peak direction service, though I’m not sure where they are in their implementation. http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/marcplanfull.pdf As for a Metro extension, it is something we have analyzed, though it hasn’t performed as well as other possible extensions and many of its riders came from other transit service in the corridor.

    Additionally, as we outlined in Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro, the authority’s strategic plan for 2025, there are a number of initiatives that we need to implement before we can entertain extensions. They initiatives are listed at the bottom of http://www.wmata.com/momentum.

  7. LeGrande
    April 23rd, 2013 at 17:49 | #7

    why doesn’t Metro buy out the Marc and expand to BWI and to other places in Va and Maryland. I know making life easier is not easy. But it is up to Metro to alliviate traffic congestion 100 miles out radius because Metro is the core transit system for the DMV.

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