The measure advances a plan that aims to extend MARC trains past Union Station in the District and into Virginia in coming years.
Still, supporters of the MARC bill, which will go into effect July 1, said the investments in rail are critical to lure back riders and make transit suitable for all types of trips — not just commuting.The bill “is a first step towards more service hours, more places served, and more flexibility,” said Miriam Schoenbaum, a board member of the Action Committee for Transit, which supported the measure.
Supporters also say expanding MARC, particularly with run-though service to Virginia, is critical to the future of the regional economy and would respond to an influx of development and jobs across the Potomac River — namely the growth of Amazon’s second headquarters in Crystal City. Joe McAndrew, who oversees transportation issues for the Greater Washington Partnership, composed of chief executives between Richmond and Baltimore, said the Maryland legislation is “bold” and will boost “the vision of a seamless capital region rail network from Baltimore to Richmond.”
The bill that went into effect last year urged the state to pursue a pilot program to have MARC trains sharing the tracks with the Virginia Railway Express to serve L’Enfant Plaza, Crystal City and Alexandria. The MTA in December said that service is not possible before the anticipated expansion of Long Bridge, which connects the District and Virginia, and is being expanded to double capacity for train traffic over the Potomac.
The legislation comes as several other rail projects get underway in the state, including Amtrak’s $150 million revamp of Baltimore Penn Station, home to the MARC Penn Line, and a plan to replace the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel in the next decade at a cost of $4 billion, which would eliminate a major bottleneck for Amtrak, MARC trains and commercial rail traffic in the Northeast.