Planning Staff Recommends Northern MARC Station Site

One of the discussions throughout the two-year White Flint Sector Plan development process has been where to locate a new commuter railroad station to connect to the White Flint Metrorail station. The original Master Plan recommends a new commuter rail station; the staff wants to relocate that site further south into the White Flint Sector.

Two sites have been proposed: one, known as the Montouri site, to the east of the Metro station, at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Nebel St (near the new Harris-Teeter grocery store); the other further south by Nicholson Court. The Montouri site is half the distance from the Metro station. A study by the Maryland Transportation Authority found no superiority for either site. The local landowners support the Nicholson Court site; according to the staff memo, the adjacent landowners at the Montouri site do not.

The March 19 Planning Board Meeting Staff Memorandum has a staff recommendation on the site location: the Montouri site. The staff recommends the more northern site because it is closer to the Metro and more in keeping with the MTA’s plan to bring long-distance commuters to employment centers.

The MARC station site will be part of the discussion at the March 5 Planning Board worksession. No witness list has been posted yet.