MARC plans triple capacity by 2035

[writerthesp77]

The detailed blueprint, outlined in a briefing by MTA Administrator Paul J. Wiedefeld, envisions a system that eventually would stretch from Virginia to Delaware and have the capacity to carry more than 100,000 riders a day.

MTA's near-term plans include additional trains on the Penn Line, some of which would operate on weekends, and a midday train on the Camden Line.

Baltimore Sun

[realtype]

Detailed information on MARC's long awaited expansion plan:

http://mtamaryland.com/marcsummary2.pdf

[The Metropolitan]

Interesting reading in the fact sheet. I'm certainly curious of what the outcome will be regarding the purchase of "temporary" cars for use until a permanent fleet is acquired.

Those Amfleets stored in Wilmington might look good with the blue and orange of MARC applied to their sides.

[gprimr1]

This all sounds alot like what my group worked on over the summer at MTA. I wonder if there's a connection.

[davinp]

In June 2002, the VRE Operations Board authorized the VRE Chief Operating Officer to issue a task order to Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas to provide comprehensive planning services for development of a long-term (through 2025) strategic plan. The intent of the plan was to perform technical analysis and modeling to determine future potential ridership demand and the capital and operating expenses necessary to meet the demand. The completed Strategic Plan was presented to the VRE Operations Board in May 2004.

You can see the complete plan here:
http://www.vre.org/about/strategic/strategic_plan.htm

[sschelle]

There doesn't appear to a line item anywhere in the State budget for any of this. (we, the State PLAN to spend this much in this fiscal year)

Even more important, there doesn't seem to be a specific appropriation for any of this anywhere (we, the legislature and the governor hereby authorize the MTA to spend $X to do Y project)

Finally, and most importantly, the State is projecting a $1.5 Billion hole in next year's budget with large deficits in the next several years as well.

There's no money!

I'm not sure it's wise to treat the new transportation plan as anything other than an interesting PowerPoint presentation.

[realtype]

There doesn't appear to a line item anywhere in the State budget for any of this. (we, the State PLAN to spend this much in this fiscal year)

Even more important, there doesn't seem to be a specific appropriation for any of this anywhere (we, the legislature and the governor hereby authorize the MTA to spend $X to do Y project)

Finally, and most importantly, the State is projecting a $1.5 Billion hole in next year's budget with large deficits in the next several years as well.

There's no money!

I'm not sure it's wise to treat the new transportation plan as anything other than an interesting PowerPoint presentation.

I, myself was skeptical about the plan when I didn’t see any dedicated funding; the local media soon noticed this also. But, Governor O’Malley has been promising transportation funding, as well as education, all year and has outlined at least $300 million for transit projects in his budget proposal (which is also supposed to eliminate the $1.5 billion deficit). Another thing that convinced me that the plan is possible is that it is spread out over nearly 30 years, altthough something over such a large window does have negative points as well. Unless transportation becomes the highest priority in Maryland each year for the next 30 years, which is unrealistic, the expansion is almost guaranteed not to be carried out in the way stated in the plan. Another factor is the state administration which will turn over many times in the next 30 years. If a Republican, or maybe even another Democrat becomes governor with a different agenda, it is definitely not a given that the plan will be carried out.

From the MARC rider’s point of view it is best to just focus on changes for the next 15 years, and ignore the rest. MARC isn’t even 30 years old yet, and has not changed drastically since its inception. I, personally think that maybe about a quarter of the tasks in the plan will be carried out, within the time frame. The most likely things to be done are the purchase of new diesels, weekend trains on the Penn Line, and the purchase of new cars. Some of the tasks unlikely to carried out are four tracking MARC’s section of the NEC, and triple tracking the two CSX lines. Something has to be done though because of the rapidly increasing ridership, the large numbers of riders forced to stand, and most importantly (and the reason that funding is likely) the upcoming BRAC surge in jobs.

[gprimr1]

More trains on the NEC Amtrak is demanding Maryland invest more money in the NEC in Maryland.

[realtype]

Well it looks like MARC will get funding after all (at least some):

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... b01_layout

Its also great to hear that CSX and Amtrak are eager to cooperate. Without them the plan would be dead in the water.

[Suburban Station]

More trains on the NEC Amtrak is demanding Maryland invest more money in the NEC in Maryland.

I imagine they'll need a four track railroad. It irritates me when I get stuck behind a $10 MARC local on my $52 Amtrak ticket when I take train 111 as it is.