The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s board of directors approved plans Thursday to build a new entrance to the Silver Spring rail station.
Montgomery County will cover the $400,000 bill for the project, which should begin this summer and last about six weeks. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Discovery Communications, which have offices close to the Silver Spring station, requested the new entrance.
The weather agency and the communications corporation combined have thousands of employees, many of whom use the station every day. NOAA and Discovery want the new entrance so the employees will have a direct route between their offices and the station. Red Line service to Silver Spring is not expected to be affected by the construction.
In other action Thursday, the board approved a proposal to reduce Metrobus fares on three routes that will be shortened in July and August while the South Capitol Street Bridge in D.C. is closed for a construction project. The fares on the A9 route will be cut from $1.25 to 75 cents, and the express bus fare on the P17, P19 and W13 routes from $3 to $1.25 during the closure.
Metro also will temporarily terminate these bus routes at Metrorail stations on the Green Line so the buses will not be caught in traffic backups that are expected on detour routes around the closed bridge.
“In the peak periods, we carry almost 2,400 passengers on these bus routes, and this proposed service plan will maintain travel times and adjust fares to match the level of service,” said Jim Hughes, Metro’s director of operations support.
