Yes, I did. There was not much new information but it was a good briefing of what the plans are to date. The next community briefing and comment session is May 8 from 5-8 pm at the College Park Town Hall. <div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder">
</div><div>Here's the extremely condensed version from the recent meeting in Riverdale Park:<div><ul><li>The purple line could be built three ways, in order of expense - heavy rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit.<br>
</li><li>Most community feedback thus far has been against bus rapid transit and in favor of light rail or heavy rail. </li><li>One caveat to the bus option is that bus rapid transit routes can be changed easily. A developer is more likely to sink money around a rail line since it is a permanent investment. </li>
<li>2 stops are planned for Riverdale Park - one in the M-Square area and the other for somewhere near the intersection of EW Hwy / Kenilworth.<br></li><li>There are a few different alignment scenarios to get from College Park station to go east on E-W Highway. One brings the line out at River Road and Kenilworth and then heads south on Kenilworth to turn left on E-W Hwy. Another crosses M Square in the area near Riverdale Community Park and comes out on EW Hwy heading east. </li>
<li>They studied putting a stop at Town Center but the route was rejected because it basically backtracks the route and adds a lot of travel time, with few potential riders. M Square and the corner of EW Hwy and Kenilworth offer worker density and residential density.</li>
<li>Another open house is planned on May 8 in College Park if you are interested. See more information at <a href="http://www.bi-countytransitway.com/pages/meetings.html">http://www.bi-countytransitway.com/pages/meetings.html</a></li>
<li>The chief items that Riverdale Park has called to MTA's attention are 1) Concern that the E-W Hwy/Kenilworth stop is safe to walk to. There will need to be a comprehensive effort to increase pedestrian safety in the area. 2) Interest in the M-Square station stop being located near the Gosling Pond/Riggs Bank/Raytheon building area, to get it closer to the residential area of Riverdale Park for walkers/bikers/etc. from the neighborhood.</li>
</ul><div>- Alice </div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:44 PM, Nancy Augustine <<a href="mailto:nya_md@verizon.net" target="_blank">nya_md@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<br></div>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Did anybody go to this? Anything to report?<br>
<font color="#888888"> Nancy<br>
</font><div>-- <br></div></blockquote></div>Alice Ewen Walker<br>Councilwoman, Ward 1<br>Town of Riverdale Park
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