Town Asks MARC To Reconsider Schedule

The Kensington Town Council voted unanimously Monday to ask the state Transit Administration not to reduce MARC service to the town.

In December, MTA put forth a proposed schedule change that would cut two trains to Kensington in order to improve the Brunswick Line's timeliness. After public outcry, MTA officials delayed the implementation date for a new schedule and said they'd .

The town's resolution urges MTA not to cut any trains, citing the high morning ridership rates at Kensington's station and the likely future increase in commuters due to the pending sector plan.

"Initially, it looked like the cuts were minor," Councilmember Sean McMullen said. "But the combination of the two highest-use morning trains would be harmful for commuters."

In particular, many local students of Gonzaga College High School take the 7:17 a.m. train to get to school on time. Under MARC's proposal to eliminate that train, those students would have to find another way to school, their parents have said.

The Town Council isn't the first governing body to oppose the schedule change. 

In December, the District 18 delegation sent MARC a letter, asking the organization not to cut trains but instead consider increasing its service to Kensington.

The proposed cuts were also , and Councilmember Craig Rice worried that a reduction in service would force people back into their cars.

For their part, MARC officials have said they understand the concerns of riders in Kensington and Garrett Park, and they launched an online survey to get feedback from commuters. More than 1,000 people took the survey before it closed, MARC has said, and transit officials will use the response to propose a new train schedule in April with the aim of implementing it in May.