MARC service at Garrett Park: MDT open meeting May 22, 5:30-8:30 pm

The Maryland Department of Transportation looks forward to addressing the concerns of their customers and therefore will hold three town hall meetings this month to receive comments from riders along the Brunswick route.  One of these meetings will be held in Rockville on Tuesday, May 22 from 5:30-8:30 pm in the ground level auditorium of the Council Office Building located at 100 Maryland Avenue.  Please save the date and plan to attend if you're able.

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Last year, MARC proposed schedule changes that would cause significant changes in service to and from Garrett Park (for a detailed discussion of those proposals, see below). MTA held a series of meetings to obtain rider input on the proposed changes, including one on January 5 in Kensington that was attended by numerous Garrett Park commuters, residents, and elected representatives. Council members Jack Mandel and Phil Schulp submitted a letter on behalf of the Town.

As a result of the meetings and other comment on the original proposal, MARC has promised to (i) not implement the revisions originally scheduled to take effect on January 30; (ii) issue a revised proposed schedule in March; and (iii) hold hearings in April.

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MARC is proposing a new schedule for the Brunswick line which would reduce services at the smaller stations, including Garrett Park and Kensington. (See: http://www.mta.maryland.gov/news/marc-brunswick-line-schedule-change-proposal )



In the morning schedule, Garrett Park would keep the same number of trains but with one moved from 7:33 to 8:24, and Kensington loses a train. In the afternoon, Kensington loses the 6:19 train. Significantly, Garrett Park loses two evening stops, both 6:23 and 6:53, creating a large gap from 6:04 to 7:36 (reflecting Union Station departures of 5:40 and 7:15) - with no service for 95 minutes between those trains. This is the peak homeward commuting time, which will likely keep many current riders from using MARC.



If you are concerned about these proposed changes, please send a note to marc@mtamaryland.com with your thoughts. I've included a sample letter at the end of the message.



Here's a list of the current and proposed stop times in both Garrett Park and Kensington (Bolded times are trains proposed to be eliminated, the underlined one is to be added) for morning and afternoon/evening trains. The current and proposed schedules are attached here.



Currently in the morning, 


Garrett Park has trains stopping at 5:54, 7:13, 7:33, and 8:40.
 Kensington has trains stopping at 5:58, 6:33, 7:17, 7:38, 8:21, and 8:44

.

In the proposed morning schedule, 


Garrett Park would have trains stopping at 6:19, 7:22, 8:24, and 8:44
.  Kensington would have trains stopping at 5:58, 6:38, 7:26, 8:29, and 8:49. 




Currently in the afternoon/evening, 


Kensington has trains stopping at 2:03 (Fri. only), 3:53, 4:44, 5:35, 5:59, 6:19, 6:49, and 7:33.


Garrett Park has trains stopping at 2:05 (Fri. only), 3:56, 5:39, 6:03, 6:23, 6:53, and 7:37.

In the proposed afternoon/evening schedule, 


Kensington would have trains stopping at 1:58 (Fri. only), 3:51, 4:46, 5:30, 6:00, 6:54, and 7:33.


Garrett Park would have trains stopping at 2:02 (Fri. only), 4:09, 5:34, 6:04, and 7:36.



Also, here's Greater Greater Washington's take: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12968/marcs-new-brunswick-schedule-worsens-service-for-many/


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Dear Sir or Madam: 



I am greatly concerned about the proposed new Brunswick Line schedule, which represents a real decline in service for small stations such as Garrett Park and Kensington. In particular, the new schedule will pose a problem for me because [please describe how you use MARC and how the new schedule will affect you].



In addition, I object to the reductions in evening service to Garrett Park. Since the second-to-last evening train (P879) that stops at the Town of Garrett Park will leave Union Station at 5:40 pm (too early for many people), and there will be no 6:00 or 6:30 train that serves the Town, the only option for many of my neighbors will be to wait for the last train's 7:15 pm departure from Union Station. The hour-and-a-half gap is too large, and so many nearby residents will be unable to commute home by MARC. And, if they can't commute on the train in the evening, they are unlikely to take MARC in the morning, either. 



Please - don't cut MARC to Garrett Park! On behalf of current (and future) MARC riders in our area, I ask you to maintain service to Garrett Park and Kensington at the level the current schedule provides.



[Your Name]


[Your Address]

Expires: 2012-06-12 · Submitted: 2012-01-04