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Questions about the Proposed Development at Forest Glen Metro |
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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is seeking developers for the Forest Glen Metro. The project envisions over 100 new residential units at this site. Members of the Forest Estates Community Association (FECA) met recently to discuss their concerns about the project. There is much we do not know about this project and its impact on the traffic crisis engulfing our neighborhood. Before FECA can support this project, answers to the following questions are needed:
1. What is the status of the pedestrian tunnel linking the east side of Georgia Avenue to the Metro station? WMATA has completed preliminary engineering studies for this project. (Other Metro stations adjacent to major arteries have pedestrian tunnels, e.g., Wheaton.)
2. Have any studies of traffic at Forest Glen Road and Georgia Avenue (FG/GA) been conducted since August 2003? What do these studies show? Are any capacity improvements planned for the FG/GA intersection over the next ten years?
3. How many pedestrians and vehicle occupants have been injured or killed in the FG/GA intersection during the past five years? What is the number of accidents reported in police reports for the (FG/GA) intersection? Has the County faced any litigation during the past several years as a result of an accident at the (FG/GA) intersection? Has the County legal office noted (or generated any legal memos regarding) any legal, liability or insurance risks as a result of the continuing situation at the (FG/GA) intersection?
4. Have the County, SHA or WMATA conducted any studies of pedestrian crossing safety at Forest Glen Road and Georgia Avenue? Does the current pedestrian crossing time meet Maryland DOT guidelines?
5. Is any neighborhood retail planned for the Forest Glen Metro project that might reduce the need for residents to drive elsewhere? If not, why not?
6. The WMATA request for proposals stated a maximum density for the 8.8 acres of the project of 25 units per acre. This is significantly above the levels approved in the 1996 Forest Glen Sector plan. How can this discrepancy be explained? What is the maximum density for the proposed project? How many acres will the project cover?
7. How many parking spaces will be built in the proposed development? Will the current number of commuter spaces be maintained for commuters? Will the developer be required to construct two spaces per residential unit in addition to maintaining the existing number of commuter spaces? Will this be two real spaces or will it be one space and a bit of room for recycling containers (which is what happened at the Wheaton Brownstones)? Despite living on top of a Metro station and using it to commute downtown, these residents can still be expected to own two (or more) real cars per unit.
8. What steps will be taken to ensure that the Forest Glen Metro station continues to be handicapped accessible?
9. How will the workforce housing plan recently approved by the Montgomery County Council affect this project? Will there be pressure from WMATA and the developer to “force-march” the approval in order to beat the effective date (as was suggested by the Washington Post)?
10. Has the County analyzed the projected impact of the new housing being constructed at the Forest Glen Seminary? What impact will this development have on traffic on Forest Glen Road and Georgia Avenue?
11. Has the County made any effort to assess the impact of air pollution from traffic congestion on the residents of the Forest Glen Sector?
12. Is the County aware of concerns expressed by Holy Cross Hospital about the safety of the (FG/GA) intersection for its employees, patients and visitors who walk to and from the Forest Glen Metro station?
13. How will the proposed project accommodate buses? What changes to bus routes or bus capacity serving Forest Glen Metro are planned?
For further information, contact Paul Gordon, Forest Estates Community Association, at (301) 681-4121. |