Southern Maryland Rapid Transit

Southern Maryland Rapid Transit, abbreviated as SMRT, is a proposed mass transit line along the Maryland Route 5 and U.S. Route 301 highway corridors in between Washington, D.C. and Waldorf, Maryland. The project would link the heavily populated suburbs of northwestern Southern Maryland with Washington via a direct transit connection to the Washington Metro at Branch Avenue station.[2]

Southern Maryland Rapid Transit
Logo of the proposed line.
Overview
StatusProposed
LocalePrince George's County
Charles County
TerminiWhite Plains (South)
Branch Avenue (North)
Stations12
Service
TypeBus rapid transit or Light rail
SystemMaryland Transit Administration
Services1
Operator(s)Maryland Transit Administration
Technical
Line length18.7 mi (30.1 km)[1]
Route map
Legend
Proposed Alternatives
Branch Avenue
Andrews Air Force Base
Camp Springs
Coventry
Woodyard
Surratts / Southern Maryland
Medical Center
Brandywine
Timothy Branch
Mattawoman
Acton Lane
Downtown Waldorf
Smallwood
White Plains

Background

Plans have called for a mass transit line serving the MD 5-US 301 corridor since the 1990s. In 2004, the MD 5/US 301 Transit Service Staging Plan (TSSP) was created as a guide to mitigate transit expansion along the growing corridor. The Maryland State Senate issued Senate Bill 281 which required a light rail study be issued between Branch Avenue Metro Station and White Plains. This legislation was complemented by the 2010 Southern Maryland Corridor Transit Corridor Preservation Study, further detailing the planning process for such a transit connection.[3] In May 2017 the SMRT Final Alternatives Report was released, recommending bus rapid transit and preferred alignment options.[4] Local politicians are attempting to implement light rail over bus rapid transit, citing capacity concerns.[5]

See also

References

  1. "SMRT Alternatives Report" (PDF). SMRT Maryland.com. December 15, 2016.
  2. "About the Project". Southern Maryland Transit Study. Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  3. "Southern Maryland Transit Corridor Preservation Study" (PDF). MTA Maryland. August 2010.
  4. "SMRT Final Alternatives Report". MTA Maryland. May 2017.
  5. "Light rail project needs public support, residents told at meeting". Maryland Independent. September 20, 2017.
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