The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) joined federal and local officials, on December 20, to cut the ribbon on the new $34.8 million Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. When the center officially opens on December 22, the Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center will serve as the largest, non-Metrorail station transfer point in the Washington, D.C. region.
MDOT Assistant Secretary Kevin Reigrut and MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort were joined by Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator Terry Garcia Crews, Montgomery County Department of Transportation director Al Roshdieh, Prince George’s County deputy chief administrative Officer Barry Stanton, WMATA general manager and CEO Paul Weidefeld and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Director Chuck Bean to emphasize the importance of public transportation to the citizens of Maryland.
“Public transit is a vital element in helping to relieve traffic congestion, and the Takoma Langley Transit Center will play a key role in making sure that transit riders have a convenient, accessible and customer-focused facility to help them get to where they need to go,” said MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort.
“The Federal Transit Administration is proud to support the opening of a new transit facility for Maryland residents,” said FTA Regional Administrator Terry Garcia Crews. “The Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center will improve pedestrian safety and provide ladders of opportunity to help residents access employment, health care and other vital services throughout the National Capital region.”
The Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center will serve 11 bus routes that provide transit service to 12,000 passengers daily from Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, WMATA and the University of Maryland. The center accommodates 12 buses at one time, and will provide a convenient transfer point to the proposed Purple Line station located in the median of University Boulevard (MD 193) near New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650).
“This new Transit Center is another example of how important public transit is to the Washington Region,” said Barry Stanton, Prince George’s County deputy chief administrative office for public infrastructure. “Our residents use, buses and Metrorail to travel into the District of Columbia or other places around the region. This transit center will help enhance the service provided to our residents and ultimately improve their quality of life.”
“Improving transit services here and throughout Montgomery County has significant economic benefits for us, the region and the state of Maryland by attracting new employers and providing better access to new and existing jobs through public transportation,” said Montgomery County Department of Transportation Director Al Roshdieh. “That is why Montgomery County contributed $2.5 million to this project and why we are planning even greater investments in transit infrastructure for additional services, including starting next year - limited-stop service on Maryland 355 and Bus Rapid Transit along US 29 by 2020.”
During morning and afternoon rush hours, there are 60 buses passing through the area per hour. The center will provide a central, off-street location for buses to pick up and discharge passengers, and allow them to connect with other routes quickly without risking traffic conflicts. From the beginning of the project, the center has been planned to provide a secure, attractive, comfortable, ADA-accessible, off-street, well-lighted facility with restrooms, shelters and a large canopy.
The project has been a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Transportation, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, the Federal Government and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA).
"On behalf of our customers, I want to thank the State of Maryland for the important investment they have made with the Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center," said Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. "Not only will it make the commuting experience more convenient, but this new facility will enhance pedestrian safety by consolidating several bus stops that were previously along area roadways."
"The cooperation that the Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center and other bus priority projects are models for the rest of our region," Chuck Bean, executive director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) said. "The overall idea was not just to improve bus transportation, but to create smoother connections with other transportation systems and benefit travelers around the region."
Funding for the project totaled $34.8 million. The apportionment of costs was shared as follows:
- Federal TIGER Grant - $13.9 million
- Maryland - $8.3 million
- WMATA – $6.76 million
- Prince George’s County - $2.5 million
- Montgomery County - $2.5 million
- Federal Earmark - $0.818 million
