Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 28, 2011

Transit oriented development at Dunn Loring station to increase parking, bus bays

Improvements also planned for pedestrian, bicycle access to the station

Metro’s Board of Directors today (April 28) authorized the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute an amendment to the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metrorail station joint development agreement to expedite construction of proposed transit oriented development at the station.

Proposed development includes up to 720 multifamily units, including 8 percent affordable housing, and 65,000 square feet of retail space on the portion of Metro’s 15-acre site that will be sold to the developer, Mill Creek Residential Trust.

“The project increases the number of bus bays and parking spaces for Metro customers, improves access to the station for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, and will result in an attractive, mixed use, transit-oriented development at the Dunn Loring-Merrifield station,” said Steve Goldin, Metro’s Director of Real Estate.

On the portion of the site to be retained by Metro, Mill Creek Residential Trust plans to construct:
• 2,000 Metro parking spaces, an increase of 645 spaces;
• Eight bus bays, an increase of two over the number of existing bays;
• Improved pedestrian and bicycle paths to the station; and
• 60,000 square feet of retail development that the developer plans to lease from Metro.

Sale of a portion of the property will provide developer financing to construct expanded Metro parking and additional bus bays at no cost to Metro. Retail development on the portion of the site retained by Metro will provide lease revenue to Metro that will be deposited into the Transit Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIIF).

Construction of the parking garage or deck is expected to begin this fall and will first require Metrobus stops to be relocated to the edge of the site. On-site Metro parking will continue to be available for customers. Other major portions of development, including residential housing and retail, are expected to be completed within the next four to five years.

The station serves approximately 5,300 people on an average weekday.

News release issued at 3:12 pm, April 28, 2011.