MARC Rail Communities Plan

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MARC Rail Communities Plan

MARC Train Station

The MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan was approved on April 30, 2019 by the Montgomery County Council. The Plan looks to the future by offering recommendations that support and better utilize existing transit assets, improve transportation connections and traffic safety in both station areas. In addition, the Plan proposes ways to revitalize the built environment around the Boyds and Germantown stations in a manner that appropriately complements surrounding residential neighborhoods and historic resources.

At the same time, the MARC Rail Communities Plan is a preservation strategy that aims to protect and enhance valued historic rural character and resources in both Boyds and Germantown.

The MARC Rail Communities Plan builds on the recommendations of the previous 1985 Boyds Master Plan, the 1989 Germantown Master Plan and the 2009 Germantown Employment Area Sector Plan, and examines in greater detail the land uses, zoning, design and multimodal access to the two MARC stations. Specifically, this limited Master Plan:

Determines the appropriate land uses and densities at sites near each station.
Provides recommendations to improve multimodal access and safety in each station area (using information gathered during the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways and the Bicycle Master Plan to help inform the access portion of this plan).
Considers other concerns raised during the planning process (i.e. parking).

Boyds and Germantown MARC Station Areas with 5- and 10-minute walk radii.

News and Events

April 30, 2019: The MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan was approved by the Montgomery County Council. View the approved and adopted plan.

December 20, 2018: The Planning Board approved the Planning Board Draft plan and transmitted it to County Council. View the Planning Board Draft and the Draft Appendices.

June 21, 2018: Planning Board work session #4: Germantown Connect Section Recommendations. View the staff report.

May 31, 2018: MCDOT Middlebrook Road PRSA briefing.

May 31, 2018: Planning Board work session #3: MTA/MCDOT Briefing. View the MTA presentation and the staff report.

May 24, 2018: Planning Board work session #2: Boyds. View the presentation and staff report.

April 5, 2018: Planning Board work session #1: Planning Context. View the presentation and staff report.

February 1, 2018: Watch video of meeting; listen to audio recording of the meeting held at Black Rock Center for the Arts on Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m.

December 21, 2017: The team presented the working draft of the MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan to the Planning Board. View the presentation, the staff report and Working Draft.

Public Hearing Draft:

MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan Public Hearing Draft

Public Hearing Appendices:

For past news and events, see the MARC Rail Communities Planning Library.

MARc Rail Meeting

Schedule

December 21, 2017: Present Working Draft to the Planning Board

February 2018: Planning Board Public Hearing

February/March 2018: Planning Board Worksessions

Plan Background

The MARC Brunswick line is a well-traveled commuter rail line connecting West Virginia to Washington, DC. The first four stations in Montgomery County are Dickerson, Barnesville, Boyds and Germantown. The Boyds and Germantown MARC Rail Stations are the focus of this Master Plan. Due in part to increases in population in the surrounding area, specifically in Clarksburg, Boyds has experienced greater transportation pressures in and around the intersection of Barnesville, Clarksburg and Clopper Roads. Additionally, the Montgomery County Parks Department is considering development of a local park immediately to the southeast of this intersection along Hoyles Mill Road.

The Boyds MARC station contains 15 parking spaces that are quickly filled. It is assumed that many commuters will typically drive to the next nearest MARC station to find a parking space. Finally, the comprehensive revision of the County’s Zoning Ordinance, enacted on October 30, 2014, allows the reevaluation of non-residential zones around the MARC stations and densities more compatible with rural and historic character.

In Germantown, a significant amount of new residential development has been proposed or approved, and constructed within one-half mile of the MARC station since the approval of the 2009 Sector Plan. Additionally, there are significant numbers of developments proposed in the Germantown area along the route of the future Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) that will have an impact on the MARC station area. The Germantown MARC station has approximately 694 parking spaces, but typically these spaces fill up very early in the morning. It is anticipated that more commuters may use the MARC station if access conditions are improved.

Resources

Master Plans

Germantown 2009 | 1989 | Germantown Planning Library
Boyds 1985
The General Plan

Additional resources and maps are posted on the MARC Rail Communities Planning Library.

How You Can Participate and Stay Connected

Subscribe to the email list to keep up with the latest updates.
Write to us: Roberto.duke@montgomeryplanning.org and Leslie.Saville@montgomeryplanning.org
Meet with us in our offices in Silver Spring or at your own group’s meeting.
Come to public meetings, workshops and outreach events.

Last Updated: February 7, 2023

Topics

Montgomery County
Planning Department
2425 Reedie Drive, 14th Floor
Wheaton, MD 20902

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