September 13, 2005:FTA'S TAKOMA METRO STATION DEVELOPMENT DECISION DELAYED UNTILAFTER PUBLIC HEARI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2005

FTA’S TAKOMA METRO STATION DEVELOPMENT DECISION DELAYED UNTILAFTER PUBLIC HEARING

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said after a meeting with Brian Glenn, Director of the Washington, D.C. office of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), that FTA has agreed to delay its decision on the housing development proposed by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on its land adjacent to the Takoma Metro Station until after the WMATA Compact Public Hearings take place in the fall. Norton told the officials that she learned in her meetings with Takoma Park, D.C. and adjacent Maryland residents that their underlying concern was that they were not being heard on matters concerning basic transportation issues at Takoma Park, required by federal guidelines, because there would be no official hearing until after the final federal decision on the project by FTA. Norton asked that the only public hearings required by this process, the WMATA Compact Public Hearings, be re-scheduled to occur before Mr. Glenn must make a decision, and Mr. Glenn has agreed.

Congresswoman Norton said, “I was impressed by the deep, technical study of transportation studies and needs that Takoma Park citizens had taken on themselves to do. Now, beginning tomorrow, Takoma residents will have several opportunities to meet with the developer, Eakin/Youngentob Associates (EYA), in addition to the meetings residents have now had with WMATA and FTA officials as individuals. The agreement by Mr. Glenn to hear the community out by waiting until after the WMATA public hearings are held before making his decision will give greater fairness to the process. I appreciate Mr. Glenn’s visits to community meetings so far and especially his willingness to make his decision only after all have been heard on the public record.”