Metro to host public hearings on proposed Metrobus service changes

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rich Renomeron

From WMATA:

“Metro will host a series of public hearings between September 15 and October 2 to solicit input on proposed bus service changes that will enhance service for many customers. The Metrobus service adjustments are designed to increase overall on-time performance and customer satisfaction, while helping to increase ridership and improve cost efficiency.

The current proposal includes input gathered through service evaluation, priority corridor studies, customer surveys, and feedback from customers and the jurisdictions. Customer input through public hearings will help shape the final plan before it is implemented.

The public hearings will be preceded by an Open House period that will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the formal Public Hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Public Hearing portion of the sessions will provide an opportunity for comment on the docket of proposed Metrobus service changes. All service change proposals in the docket are eligible for comment at any of the six Hearing locations.

For complete information, please see the Public Hearing Docket.

Dates and locations are:

Monday, Sept. 15, 2014
Oxon Hill Library
6200 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill, MD
Free shuttle to/from Southern Avenue Station

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
Metro Headquarters Building
600 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC

Monday, Sept. 22, 2014
Fairlington Community Center
3308 S Stafford Street
Arlington, VA
Free shuttle to/from Braddock Road Station

Monday, Sept. 29, 2014
College Park City Hall
4500 Knox Road
College Park, MD
Free shuttle to/from College Park Station

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014
Westwood College – Annandale Campus
7619 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA
Free shuttle to/from Dunn Loring Station

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library
3935 Benning Road, NE
Washington, DC

Routes seeing improvements in this bus service change proposal are:

District of Columbia: U2, U4, V9, D8, 96/97, E2-E4, 81, 82, 83, 86, P6, 84, T18, P18 and W14.
Maryland: A11, A12, F14, 81, 82, 83, 86, D12, D13, D14, P12, V12, NH1, NH3, W14, P17, P19, W13, 84, T18
Virginia: 16A, 16D, 16L, 29G, 29X, 22A, 22B, 25A, 25C, 25D, 25E, 7B, 28G, 3Y.

Routes proposed for reduction or elimination are:

District of Columbia: U5, U6, U8, V7, V8
Virginia: 29E, 29H

Additional Information

The locations of all public hearings are wheelchair accessible. Any individual who requires special assistance such as a sign language interpreter or additional accommodation to participate in the public hearings, or who requires these materials in an alternate format, should contact Danise Peña at 202-962-2511 or TTY: 202-962-2033 as soon as possible in order for Metro to make necessary arrangements. For language assistance, such as an interpreter, please call 202-962-2582 at least 48 hours prior to public hearing date.

HOW TO REGISTER TO SPEAK – All organizations or individuals desiring to be heard with respect to the docket will be afforded the opportunity to present their views, make supporting statements and offer alternative proposals. In order to establish a witness list, individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to be heard at these public hearings are requested to furnish in writing their name and organization affiliation, if any, via email to [email protected]. The request may also be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Alternatively, you may fax this information to 202-962-1133. Please submit only one speaker’s name per letter. Lists of individual speakers will not be accepted. Please note that this information may be releasable to the public under the WMATA Public Access to Records Policy (PARP). The PARP can be viewed on WMATA’s website at wmata.com/about_metro/public_rr.cfm under the link marked “Legal Affairs”. Public officials will be heard first and will be allowed five minutes each to make their presentations. All others will be allowed three minutes each. Relinquishing of time by one speaker to another will not be permitted.

HOW TO SUBMIT WRITTEN STATEMENTS – Written statements and exhibits must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 by the Office of the Secretary and may be emailed to [email protected]. They may also be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Alternatively, statements may be faxed to 202-962-1133. Please reference the appropriate docket number (B13-02) in your submission. Please note that any personal information such as name, e-mail address, address, or telephone number you provide in the statement may be releasable to the public under the WMATA Public Access to Records Policy, available at the website link noted above.”