Details of New MARC Station Emerge

In response to inquiries by Arbutus Patch, Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) released more details about the new $21 million Halethorpe MARC station, the construction of which will begin next month.

The new station features two brick-clad towers connected by a pedestrian bridge, connected to two 700-foot raised platforms. The elevated and sheltered platforms will allow passengers on all of the cars of a train to enter and exit at once, rather than relying on step-stools placed at the doorway of two or three cars, as is presently done.

"Commuters will be able to step right off the train onto the platform," says MTA spokesperson Terry Owens.

"The new station has facilities that are designed to speed and ease the 2,000 commuters who use the station every day," he says.

The minutes saved boarding commuters in Halethorpe will trim transit times between Baltimore and Washington for all MARC commuters, Owens says.

People who rely on elevators for mobility will finally be relieved to know that the Halethorpe station will finally have elevators. At present, access from the northbound to the southbound sides of the track is by way of a flight of stairs to the Francis Avenue bridge.

Plans for the station include bathrooms, ticket kiosks and a Kiss & Ride facility on Potomac Avenue with a ramp connected to the train platform.

"It's a huge improvement for us," Owens says.

Under the terms of the contract approved by the county on February 23, construction of the station must be completed within 670 calendar days.