MARC Re-evaluating Schedule Changes

MARC is stepping back from its proposed Jan. 30 implementation date for a new train schedule after riders responded negatively to the idea of cuts in train service on the Brunswick Line.

At a town-hall forum in Kensington on Thursday, MTA Chief of Staff Simon Taylor said MARC has heard from riders over the last month and will go back to the drawing board on a new schedule.

The initially proposed schedule, released by MARC in December, would remove one morning eastbound train and one evening westbound train from Kensington's station, leaving near-hour-long service gaps at peak times.

Taylor said the goal is to improve the timeliness of the Brunswick Line, which he said lags behind MARC's other routes. Cutting stops at smaller stations like Kensington and Garrett Park will help get trains on schedule at peak times, he said.

MTA is conducting an online survey of MARC riders about the proposed changes, and the organization will continue to look at all of the responses, Taylor said. So far, about 1,000 people have taken the survey, he said, and the majority of respondents have not been in favor of the changes. You can take the survey on Survey Monkey.

Taylor said MTA plans to collect all of the feedback it receives and meet with CSX in March to consider other options. After that, MTA will circulate another proposed schedule in April and hold more public forums, ideally implementing the new plan in May, Taylor said.

But many Kensington and Garrett Park riders at the meeting said any cuts to service would be unfair to customers.

John Bailey, of Kensington, said changing the train schedule could do exponential harm to MARC's ridership rates.

"Any reduction of frequency will erode the number of people who use it," he said. "I'd rather have a late train than no train at all."

Paul Dickson, of Garrett Park, said many people in the area moved there because of the reliable commuter rail service, and scaling it back could affect property values.

"Garrett Park was built as a commuter town, and to keep cutting back service harms the quality of life," he said.

Many Kensington-area students of Gonzaga College High School ride MARC to the D.C. school every day, and parents in attendance said eliminating the 7:17 a.m. train to Union Station would make it impossible for their kids to use to the service.

Kensington Del. Al Carr, who was also at the meeting, said the District 18 delegation sent MARC a letter, asking the organization consider increasing its service to Kensington, thereby alleviating traffic on the county's roads.

"It sometimes seems that the state treats the Brunswick Line like a stepchild," he said. "With BRAC and the new parking lot, this doesn't seem like the time to cut service."

The proposed cuts were also when first it was announced, and Councilmember Craig Rice worried that a reduction in service would force people back into their cars.

What do you think about the idea of cutting train service to Kensington and Garrett Park? Let us know in the comments.