The County Council yesterday approved a bill that would exempt 100% of the property tax for a project built on property leased from WMATA at a Metro station in the county. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would apply to construction of new high-rise development that includes at least 50% rental housing and be in effect for 15 years.
The bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission expressed major concerns about a Draft Environmental Impact Statement during a briefing last week with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. The DEIS is part of the state’s Managed Lanes Study to evaluate alternatives to improve traffic congestion along I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Maryland, and on I-270 from I-495 to I-370.
Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Andrew Friedson introduced legislation Tuesday that would extend Metro’s existing property tax abatement for 15 years for new high-rise development. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would require the Director of Finance to offer a payment in lieu of taxes for a high-rise building constructed by a private developer on property leased from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at a Metro station.
Service on Metro’s Red Line was interrupted by a derailment at the Silver Spring station shortly before 11:30 a.m. A statement posted by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, posted on the organization’s Twitter page, reads, “Preliminary information suggests the eight-car train passed a red signal prior to the derailment.”
The county’s Planning Department has released a report that analyzed and made recommendations concerning the level of comfort for pedestrians walking to future Purple Line stations. The Purple Line report focuses specifically on the comfort level for pedestrians walking within a half-mile of each station.
VanGo, the free downtown Silver Spring circulator bus service, resumes service today (June 8) after being suspended during the county’s COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, the county has announced a return of certain RideOn routes in an “Essential Plus” plan.
Two area organizations are offering childcare and travel support for essential workers at no cost during the COVID-19 emergency. The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington has opened several of its branches and program centers to provide emergency childcare for workers, including at the Silver Spring branch. At the same time, the county’s Department of Transportation announced temporary programs from Capital Bikeshare and Lyft scooters to provide free rides to essential employees.
Colesville Road (U.S. Route 29) will be resurfaced and have additional improvements installed from St. Andrews Way/Sligo Creek Parkway to just past Stewart Lane, according to an announcement from the State Highway Administration. The work, which is scheduled to begin this spring, will repair a surface marred by a WSSC water main project between St. Andrews and the Beltway. The project will continue north past the Shoppes of Burnt Mills, a total of about 3.6 miles.
Fans of electric scooters would face new restrictions on their use under the terms of a bill introduced this week by Council President Sidney Katz (D-District 3). Bill 8-20, Bicycles and E-Scooters—Operating Requirements and Registration, would create operating requirements for the use of low-speed electric scooters and is intended to reduce injuries, among other purposes.