Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 5, 2013

Metro to host six public hearings on proposed bus service changes


Meetings scheduled September 16-19 in MD, VA, DC

Metro is evaluating service changes for several of its bus routes and will hold six public hearings between September 16 and 19. For each location, an Open House period will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the formal Public Hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. All service change proposals in the docket are eligible for comment at any of the six Hearing locations.

By a 15-to-1 margin, the proposed changes will improve on-time performance and customer satisfaction, serve more riders, and improve operating efficiency.  One rider for every 15 who benefits may be inconvenienced by a proposed change.

Metro is also encouraging riders to participate in an online survey about the proposed bus service changes. The survey is available in multiple languages through September 24 at wmata.com/buschangesurvey. The survey option is offered in addition to the public's ability to speak at a hearing or to submit a written statement.  Survey results will be included in the public record.

Dates and locations are:

Monday, September 16
Oxon Hill Library
6200 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill, MD

Monday, September 16
Bailey’s Elementary School Cafeteria
6111 Knollwood Drive
Falls Church, VA

Tuesday, September 17
Shirlington Library
4200 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA

Tuesday, September 17
DC Dept. of Treasury, 2nd Floor Conference Room
1101 4th Street SW
Washington, DC

Wednesday, September 18
The Atrium at Treetops
8181 Professional Place #200
Hyattsville, MD

Thursday, September 19
LaSalle Elementary School Auditorium
501 Riggs Road NE
Washington, DC

Documents related to this service change proposal (Docket #B13-02) can be found at:
http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/B13-02_landing/B13-02_landing.cfm

Routes seeing improvements in this bus service change proposal are:

  • District of Columbia: 31, 32, 36, 42, 96, 97, D6, E2,  E4, E6, H1, H3, H8, U2, V7, V8, V9, W1
  • Maryland: 87,88, 89, 89M, B21, B22, B29, B30, B31, C2, C4, C12, C14, C28, K6, K9, NH1, W15, Y5, Y7, Y8, Y9
  • Virginia: 1A, 1C, 1F, 2B, 2G, 7Y, 9E, 9X, 10A, 10B, 10E, 10X, 15M, 18E, 18F, 18P, 18S, 23A, 23T, 25B, 26A, 29K, 29N, CCPY

Routes proposed for reduction or elimination are:

  • District of Columbia: 5A, 34, 74, 80, M2, M8, M9
  • Maryland: R3
  • Virginia: 3B, 3T, 4A, 4B, 4E, 4H, 5A, 13F, 13G, 25E, 29K, 29N

The proposed service changes do not increase operating costs.

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 speak@wmata.com. 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 writtentestimony@wmata.com. 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.

 

News release issued at 3:03 pm, September 5, 2013.