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Why It is Time to Build a South Entrance to the Bethesda Metrorail Station
updated: March 3, 2008
THE LATEST NEWS:
Two years ago, PLN and our partners launched a successful campaign to get a Montgomery County commitment to build the south entrance to the Bethesda Metrorail station. Funding was committed to design this important transit upgrade, which will serve as the interface between the Purple and Red Lines.
A NEW OPPORTUNITY:
On February 28, 2008. our allies on the County Council initiated the process of moving this to the next level. By a vote of 2-1, the Council's Transportation and Environment Committee put forth a recommendation to add $55 million to the County capital budget for construction of this entrance. The committee approved two other projects
which are competing for the same funds, which is why it is important for Purple Line supporters to write the County Council urging them to approve funding for construction of this project.
YOU CAN HELP TODAY:
An e-mail to Council President Mike Knapp will be distributed to all Montgomery County Council members: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov
BACKGROUND:- Each day, 9,490 people arrive and 9,701 people depart from the Bethesda Metrorail station. By 2030, this number is expected to increase to 13,000 and 13,100 respectively. The existing peak hour congestion will soon become unacceptable and something must be done to address this problem. If transit rider’s needs are not met, they will go back to their cars, overwhelming Bethesda’s limited road network.
- The solution is a second entrance. Many other important stations in the system have two access points. Silver Spring, for example, had three. In fact, the Bethesda south entrance has been in the county Master Plan since Metrorail was extended to Montgomery County. The original station was built with "knock-out" panels to facilitate this upgrade.
- The Bethesda south entrance will be a bank of elevators going down from the corner of Wisconsin Ave. & Elm St. to the southern end of the Metrorail platform. The elevators will resemble the elevators at the south end of the Friendship Heights Metrorail Station.
- WMATA has completed planning studies of this system improvement, with the cost estimated at about $50 million. If County funding is approved for design, the agency could complete design in less than a year, with construction following soon thereafter.
- The elevator project will be designed to provide for a third stop in the tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue to create a direct connection between the Purple Line and the Red Line.
- The south entrance will attract 700 additional daily trips on the Red Line at Bethesda. In addition, 9,000 daily trips by people who already use the Red Line will be faster and easier because the new entrance will be closer to them. The two block difference in distance is not inconsequential in inclement weather.
- Also, of importance in the post 9-11 world, a second egress will improve safety for Metrorail users in the event of a major catastrophe affecting the north entrance, assuming the power supply for the south bank of elevators is secured.
- Even without the Purple Line, this proposal is comparable in cost-effectiveness to other transit investments being made in our region:
- 9,000 trips × 0.1 hr/trip = 900 hours saved per day
- $50 million/900 = $55,500 per daily hour saved. This is twice the cost-effectiveness of the Phase 1 Dulles Metrorail Extension:
- 17,800 hours per day at a cost of at least $1.8 billion:
- $1.8 billion /6,1624; 17,800 = $101,100 per daily hour saved
TAKE A MINUTE TO HELP:- Help us improve transit in Bethesda and take one important step forward on the Purple Line. Contact members of the Montgomery County Council today. An e-mail to Council President Mike Knapp will be distributed to all Montgomery County Council members: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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68,000 riders each weekday is huge! Counting down to completion of Purple Line DEIS; Latest news: Latest News; How you can help
See: Calendar of Events.
We need you to help keep the Purple Line a state and county priority. Write a letter, make a call or send an e-mail in support of the Purple Line today. See: Contact List
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