WORK SESSION of the Greenbelt City Council held April 23, 2008, for the purpose of being briefed on the Prince George’s County Draft Transit Services and Operations Plan.
Mayor Davis started the meeting at 8:05 p.m. It was held in the Multipurpose Room of the Greenbelt Community Center.
PRESENT WERE: Counci members Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, Rodney M. Roberts and Mayor Judith F. Davis.
STAFF PRESENT WERE: Terri Hruby, Assistant Director of Planning, and Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager.
ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sheldon Goldberg and Bill Orleans.
Ms. Hruby briefed Council on her review of the proposed County Transit Services and Operations Plan. The plan has not been made public yet, but County Councilmember Turner arranged for a preliminary review by the cities of Greenbelt and Bowie. The intent of the plan is to provide a comprehensive plan to guide county transit decisions over the next five years.
Ms. Hruby made a presentation that summarized the recommendations of the plan. There are currently four TheBus routes serving Greenbelt, seven Metrobus routes, and five demand-responsive services, including the Greenbelt Connection. The plan has a number of impacts on Greenbelt and resident bus users.
- Elimination of the portion of the C2 route east of the Greenbelt Metro Station - This recommendation would negatively impact residents in the Westway/Lakecrest area and require transfers for service west of the Greenbelt Metro Station. Ms. Hruby thinks other TheBus routes can be modified to replace service to be eliminated.
- Split Metrobus Route 12 into two routes to provide better balance throughout Greenbelt.
- Eliminate TheBus Route 11 – While it duplicates part of Metrobus Route 12, it eliminates service between Capital Office Park/Federal Court House and the Greenbelt Metro Station.
- The plan does not address planned future development in Greenbelt West.
Councilmembers mentioned numerous times that people want Saturday and Sunday service. Ms. Hruby noted that the study consultants were instructed not to address the lack of Sunday service in this study. Ms. Hruby also noted that there is a chance that when the report is publicly released, some of the City’s concerns might be addressed. Council thought the COG transit study recently approved for Greenbelt could aid the City’s response on this topic.
At this time, no action is needed, but the matter will be brought back to Council when the study is publicly released.
The meeting ended at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael McLaughlin
City Manager