Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 11, 2004

Public hearing set on restructuring bus service to coincide with opening of two new Blue Line Metrorail stations

A joint public hearing will be held by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15 on the proposed restructuring of bus service impacted by the opening of two Blue Line Metrorail stations later this year. The hearing will be held at Prince George’s Community College’s Largo Student Center (Building 5) in Community Room C. Metrobus routes affected are: A15; C21, C22, C25, C26, C29; J14 and J15. " The Bus" routes affected are: 21, 22, 23, 24 and 26. An analysis has been made of Metrobus and " The Bus" service in the area of Prince George’s County impacted by the extension of Metrorail’s Blue Line to Largo scheduled to open this December. Routes that serve the Central Avenue corridor at Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station and do not pass near the two new stations, Morgan Boulevard and Largo Town Center, would not change. Proposed Metrobus service changes include:" Rush hour A15 trips would be converted to A12, as The Bus Route 22 would connect Lansdowne Village apartments with Metrorail at the new Morgan Boulevard Station;" Weekday Routes C21 and C22 and Saturday Route C29 would be rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Metrorail station, Largo Center Drive, Apollo Drive, Arena Drive and Brightseat Road. Service on the grounds of Hampton Mall would be discontinued;" Weekday Routes C25 and C26 would be shortened to terminate at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station instead of continuing to Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station;" Weekday Route J14 and its rush hour extension J15 would be discontinued and replaced by rerouted " The Bus" Route 24 service connecting with Metrorail at Morgan Boulevard Station. Prince George’s County bus service, called " The Bus," is proposed to change as follows:" Route 21 would serve Largo Town Center Metrorail station as well as the New Carrollton Metrorail station;" Route 22 would serve the Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station instead of the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station;" Route 23 would serve Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station via Walker Mill Drive (new service) instead of Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station via Central Avenue and would no longer duplicate Metrobus service on Addison Road in Fairmount Heights or on M. L. King, Jr. Highway;" Route 24 would be extended to replace Metrobus Routes J14 and J15 on Kipling Parkway, Ritchie Road, and in the vicinity of Ritchie Commerce Center and Hampton Mall, and it would connect with Metrorail at Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station; and" Route 26 would operate to Largo Town Center Metrorail station via Landover Road instead of to Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station via Central Avenue. Anyone who wishes to speak at the hearing should furnish in writing their name, address, telephone number and organization affiliation (if any) referencing hearing number 515 and docket number B04-7 to Mr. Harold Bartlett, Secretary, WMATA, 600 Fifth St., NW, Washington, DC 20001 or fax it to him at 202-962-1133. Only one speaker’s name per letter is accepted. Written statements will be accepted until the close of business on September 22 at the above address or via e-mail at public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com, please refer to hearing number 515 and Docket number B04-7.

News release issued on August 11, 2004.