Council Draws State Delegates, Metro Development Plans

Last night’s Greenbelt City Council meeting drew in all three delegates from the county’s 22nd district, each of whom provided input and updates over the General Assembly's 90-day legislative session that concluded in April.

For his part, Delegate Justin Ross touched on several key — and decidedly controversial — pieces of legislation, including passage of two ethics reform bills aimed at Prince George’s County, a statewide 50 percent sales tax hike on alcoholic beverages and the granting of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

“I think honest people can disagree honestly on this issue,” Ross said of the in-state tuition bill, dubbed the "Maryland Dream Act." But, he added, “When you see the young faces, you realize what we’re talking about.”

During the council meeting, Ross expressed dismay over failing to legalize same-sex marriage, a bill that came up a few votes shy in the House of Delegates. “We think that was an important piece of legislation,” he said, adding that it would likely resurface in coming sessions. 

Meanwhile, Delegate Tawanna Gaines focused primarily on the economic climes facing the state. “This was a very difficult session,” she said. “When you have a deficit, there’s definitely not enough revenue coming in.”

Nonetheless, Gaines said, the General Assembly managed to do get several things right, including $25,000 for the Greenbelt Arts Center on a local level, as well as stave off a more significant rise in the amount state employees pay into their pensions statewide.

Come July 1, state employees will contribute 7 percent of their earnings toward retirement, a 2-point rise.

According to Delegate Anne Healey, Prince George’s County was “one of [the state’s] few winners.” But, she said, “There’s still a lot to be done.” 

The council seemed pleased with each member’s efforts, including Mayor Judith Davis. “Just a collective thank you, really,” she said. 

In other business, a three-person envoy of WMATA reps presented the council with plans to lay 10,000 feet of test track between the Greenbelt Maintenance Yard and College Park Airport.

The new line, meant to expedite the introduction and testing of 428 new rail cars, would sit between existing CSX and Metro tracks, according to John Thomas, a director at WMATA.

According to Thomas, no other location met WMATA’s test-track criteria — 10,000 feet of above-ground rail, coupled with a slope from top to bottom that doesn’t exceed 1 percent.

The $88.3 million plans, which Thomas said could begin by spring of 2012 and stretch a good 15 months, also entail the construction of a four-story parking garage and two-story “commissioning facility” that would house new rail cars requiring additional maintenance and testing.

“We’re very concerned about the wetlands that are very close to where you are,” said Mayor Davis, who also wondered about the added noise associated with the testing.

While Thomas said the “potential exists” for late-night testing, he said there is “nothing” that nearby residents won’t already be accustomed to when it comes to Metro’s noise.

Thomas also said both facilities would be built on impervious surfaces already located on the Greenbelt Maintenance Yard, and that an environmental analysis would soon be made available.

Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan asked whether the facility would produce any job opportunities for local residents.

“What we’re finding is the needs don’t always match what the skills are,” said Thomas — however, he added, WMATA would certainly “reach out” to job seekers in the area. 

Jordan and Councilman Rodney Roberts also queried the need for such a large parking structure, which Thomas said would house well over 400 cars.

“We’re overbuilding it for future expansion,” said Thomas. “Just in case.”

“Almost 300 more than you [will] need?” asked Roberts. “I am concerned about how it would look.”

Mayor Davis also suggested WMATA consider a three-story parking structure instead, and asked that Thomas keep the city informed as things progress.