ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 22, 2010) - Just one month after formally designating 14 Maryland transit stations as sites for transit oriented development, Governor Martin O'Malley applauds actions taken today to advance the TOD project at the New Carrollton Metro Station in Prince George's County. Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board approved an agreement to seek a private development team to plan and construct a transit oriented development on State- and WMATA-owned property at the New Carrollton station.
"When talking about transit oriented development, we are talking about bringing together a vibrant mix of retail, residential, office and entertainment space next to established transit stations," said Governor O'Malley. "By doing so, we revitalize our existing communities, increase transit ridership and channel expected growth toward areas where walkable, sustainable communities are planned."
Working with Prince George's County and MDOT, WMATA will lead an effort to select a private team to redevelop 16 acres of state-owned land and 25 acres of WMATA property adjacent to the New Carrollton Metro Station. The objective is to identify a private developer to plan, finance and construct development projects on the properties, which implement the vision recently adopted by the Prince George's County Council to transform the New Carrollton area into a metropolitan center. The county land-use plans envision development of the State and WMATA-owned properties as core components of a broader plan to redevelop the New Carrollton area as a new urban center, with up to 6.1 million square feet of new commercial office and retail space and 5,500 residential units. The solicitation is expected to be issued this summer and a development team selected this fall.
New Carrollton was one of the first fourteen transit stations identified last month under the State's TOD Designation program, after consultations with Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and the Prince George's County Council. New Carrollton is a transportation hub, served by the Metrorail Orange Line, MARC, Amtrak, Metrobus and The Bus. It also has access to the Capital Beltway and US 50 and will be a stop on the planned Purple Line.
"I want to congratulate County Executive Johnson and the WMATA board for their efforts to promote TOD," said Governor O'Malley. "This is an important step being taken today, but a continued partnership will be needed to realize the benefits of private sector investment and sustainable development."
The New Carrollton project is one of the first for WMATA being pursued under new provisions in WMATA's Joint Development Program, which allow for greater flexibility in how WMATA develops it station properties.
Transit oriented development at the New Carrollton Metro station reflects the goals of Governor O'Malley's Smart, Green and Growing initiative. Introduced in October 2008, the Smart, Green & Growing initiative was created to strengthen the state's leadership role in fostering smarter, more sustainable growth and inspire action among all Marylanders to achieve a more sustainable future. The initiative brings together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to create more livable communities, improve transportation options, reduce the state's carbon footprint, support resource based industry, invest in green technologies, preserve valuable resource lands and restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
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