Interactive GIS map encourages participants to provide comments about improving the areas around the MARC stations in Boyds and Germantown
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has recently launched an online map that allows participants to convey their ideas about the future of areas around the MARC stations in Boyds and Germantown. The MARC Rail Communities Feedback Map is part of the planning work for the MARC Rail Communities Master Plan.
View the feedback map to record your online comments about the future of MARC stations in Boyds and Germantown.
The map will be open for comments until after the March design workshops scheduled for the MARC Rail Communities Master Plan. Participants are asked to provide thoughts on connections, placemaking and other topics relevant to the Boyds and Germantown MARC stations. They can remain anonymous or identify themselves in the comment box.
The comments will be posted in real time on the map for the public to view and will be considered by planners as work continues on the MARC Rail Communities plan.
Find out more about the MARC Rail Communities Plan.
Public Workshop Scheduled for March
A multi-day, public design workshop for the MARC Rail Communities Plan is scheduled for Monday, March 7 and Monday, March 14 through Wednesday, March 16. All of the meetings will be held at the Upcounty Regional Services Center (12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, MD 20874). The public is invited to drop in during the day and evening sessions, and participate in community visioning exercises to brainstorm concepts for improving MARC station areas.
The purpose of the hands-on workshop is to gain feedback from County and state officials and the community about various aspects of the rail station areas in Boyds and Germantown. Discussions will focus on road access, parking, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation and other topics.
Participants will be able to engage staff immediately and provide ideas about the future of the station areas and their communities. This interactive community planning process enables all stakeholders to participate and become vested in the ultimate vision.
Topics of Discussion for March Workshops
The March 7 workshop will begin with technical discussions with various agencies, such as the County Historic Preservation Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration and State Highway Administration, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The public is invited to listen to the discussions and ask questions. An open house/ community visioning exercise follows in the evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
During the second phase of the MARC Rail Communities Plan Design Workshop, being held from March 14 to March 16, planners will work with all of the community stakeholders to synthesize ideas from the previous week and explore additional ideas in order to determine the priorities for the Boyds and Germantown station areas. Discussions will examine road access, parking, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation and other topics.
On Monday, March 14, the planners will focus on Boyds; on Tuesday, March 15, they will focus on Germantown. The evening of Wednesday, March 16 will culminate with a recap of the workshops and presentation of alternative ideas and recommendations for station areas.
About the MARC Rail Communities Master Plan
The MARC Rail Communities Planners will focus on ways of improving transit station areas in Boyds and Germantown in ways that will be sensitive to the character and scale of these historic communities. Planners will consider opportunities for physical and operational improvements to the stations and enhancements to commuter rail service in Montgomery County.
Recommended land uses and existing zoning for the stations and surrounding areas will be evaluated for consistency with the scale and character desired. Access and connections in the vicinity of the stations will also be evaluated and enhancements recommended where needed. In coordination with MARC Rail and County and state agencies, the Plan will consider land uses and alternative arrangements for existing surface parking and access.
Master Plan recommendations will be presented to the Planning Board in summer 2016 and a public hearing on the Plan will be held in fall 2016. Learn more about this plan: www.montgomerplanning.org/marcrailplan
Stay connected
- Stay informed and join the MARC Rail Communities email list at montgomeryplanning.org/marcrailplan
- Email us at Roberto.Duke@montgomeryplanning.org
- Meet with us in our offices in Silver Spring or attend a public meeting in Boyds or Germantown.
Our team
Roberto Duke, Planner Coordinator, 301.495.2168
Leslie Saville, Planner Coordinator, 301.495.2194