Residents' Concerns Push Council to Put Footbridge on Hold

After listening to the concerns of nine residents, the College Park Council chose to stall provisions for a pedestrian overpass to connect north College Park with the south core of the future redeveloped Greenbelt Metro station area.

The residents who testified at Tuesday night’s mayor and council meeting said they were concerned that a footbridge over the railway tracks would reduce the quality of life for nearby residents, disturb wildlife, and invite crime and noise.

Several said that a pedestrian overpass, which would have to be high enough to allow the trains to pass underneath, would not fit in with the residential area. Former City Councilwoman Mary Cook (Dist. 4) displayed a photo of the bridge near Berwyn Road that passes over the tracks, calling it a “monstrosity.”

Councilman Patrick Wojahn, whose District 1 encompasses north College Park, said that although a bridge would have to be as high as the one at Berwyn Road, it wouldn’t have to look the same, and that residents would be consulted about what the bridge would look like.

He added that the city could place contract police near the bridge to patrol the area.

Before unanimously approving an agreement between CRM Mid-Atlantic Properties, LLC—the south core developers—and the city, council voted 7-1 to remove a provision that required the developers to support the city in identifying a funding mechanism and a timetable for construction for the bridge. Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3) was the dissenting vote.

Councilman Fazlul Kabir (Dist. 1) motioned for the amendment to remove the bridge provision. Though supporting the amendment, Wojahn said he was concerned that “within 20 years from now, we’ll be thinking, 'If only we had better access to that area,'” he said, noting that it would allow easier connection to amenities and the Anacostia Tributary Trail system.

The one resident who spoke in favor of the footbridge agreed.

“This bridge would significantly increase the outdoor exercise options in north College Park,” said former Councilman Mark Shroder, president of the North College Park Citizens Association.

Other residents weren’t convinced.

“I haven’t come up with one reason why anyone would want to put a bridge in there,” said Jane Sprouse. “What is this bridge going to do for us?”

Attorney Norman Rivera, who represents the developers, said he thinks a bridge is a good idea, but he supported removing the provision from the agreement.

“You don’t want to force anything down these folks’ throats,” he said, which was met with applause from the residents.

But some said they want the bridge proposal to be taken off the table of options entirely, especially since the issue was resurrected after a citizen petition was circulated five years ago in opposition to the bridge.

Residents thought the issue was done, said former City Councilwoman Christine Nagle, . “None of the original reasons for having a bridge at Huron Street still exist, including a reduced amount of commercial development located in the south core,” she said.

Though Huron Street was originally identified as the location for the proposed bridge, Wojahn said that would have been re-evaluated.

The approved agreement between the south core developers and the city in part replaces a 2005 agreement between the city and Metroland Developers, LLC and Greenbelt Metropark LLC that encompassed the north and south cores.

The previous developers for the south core went into foreclosure. Sun Trust Bank, which now owns the property, wanted to sever the current agreement with the city, Wojahn said.

The new agreement (before the bridge provision was removed) is attached.