Silver Spring station

Last updated

Silver Spring
WMATA Red.svg
Silver spring station platform - June 2016.jpg
Silver Spring station in June 2016
General information
Location8400 Colesville Road
1170 Bonifant Street
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates 38°59′38″N77°01′53″W / 38.993841°N 77.031321°W / 38.993841; -77.031321
Owned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms1 island platform (Metro)
2 side platforms (MARC)
Tracks4 (2 for each service)
Connections
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking715 spaces (leased)
Bicycle facilities Capital Bikeshare, 26  racks, 30  lockers
AccessibleYes [1]
Other information
Station codeB08
History
OpenedFebruary 4, 1978;46 years ago (February 4, 1978) [2]
Services
Preceding station MARC train.svg MARC Following station
Kensington Brunswick Line Union Station
Terminus
Preceding station WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Washington Metro Following station
Takoma
toward Shady Grove
Red Line Forest Glen
toward Glenmont
Future services
Preceding station MDOT-MTA Logo.svg Maryland Transit Administration Following station
16th Street–Woodside
toward Bethesda
Purple Line Silver Spring Library
Location
Silver Spring station

Silver Spring station is a train station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro and the Brunswick Line of the MARC Train commuter rail system. The Metro station averaged 4,536 daily riders in 2023, making it the 19th-busiest stop in the network and the busiest in the state of Maryland. [3] Trains travelling south from the station quickly cross the border into Washington, D.C., while northbound trains head underground and make their way further into Montgomery County.

Contents

Silver Spring station mainly serves the populous suburb of Silver Spring and is located east of the intersection between Colesville Road (Route 384) and East-West Highway (Route 410). In addition to rail service, several Metrobus and Ride On bus routes also serve the station at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center, formerly known as the Silver Spring Transit Center.

It will be a stop for the Purple Line light rail system, which is currently under construction.

History

Red Line service at Silver Spring began on February 6, 1978. Prior to the opening of Forest Glen Station on September 22, 1990, Silver Spring was the northeastern terminus of the Red Line. MARC trains began service in this location in 2003, replacing the Silver Spring Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station, located about .25 miles (0.40 km) to the south.

On July 7, 2020, a 7000-series train derailed at low speed on the southbound track as it was leaving the station. There were no injuries. [4] An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

The Purple Line system is under construction as of 2022 and is scheduled to open in 2027. [5]

Bus station

On September 26, 2008, [6] there was a groundbreaking ceremony that took place at the Silver Spring Metro Station, as construction of the Silver Spring Transit Center was about to begin two days later. On September 28, 2008, [6] both the original Silver Spring Metro Station Bus Bay where all WMATA Metrobus, Montgomery County Ride-On, and Shuttle UM Bus Routes originally stopped at, as well as the original Silver Spring Metro Station Kiss & Ride Lot were demolished, in order to make room for the construction of the Silver Spring Transit Center. As a result, all bus route terminals were temporarily rerouted to the side streets near the Silver Spring Metro Station until the Silver Spring Transit Center opened. The facility has 34 bays for Metro, Ride-on Buses, Shuttle-UM, "Kiss and Ride" access, Metrorail, and MARC train service. Its increased capacity is expected to ease the implementation of the Purple Line. The Transit Center will also mark the location for the future northern terminus of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, which heads southbound to Washington Union Station. The transit center is named for former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes. [7]

The complex was subject to construction problems and the schedule was extensively delayed. [8]

On March 19, 2013, an engineering firm engaged by Montgomery County to investigate the defects issued a report that indicated "significant and serious design and construction defects, including excessive cracking, missing post-tensioning cables, inadequate reinforcing steel, and concrete of insufficient strength and thickness." [9]

In May 2014, repairs were announced to begin for the summer with the hope of completing them in time to open by early 2015, [10] but after two months they had not resumed.

The facility was transferred from Montgomery County to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in August 2015 after the completion of renovations, [11] and opened on September 20, 2015, five years behind schedule. [12]

On June 1, 2024, all Red Line stations north of Fort Totten, including Silver Spring, were closed to allow the Maryland Transit Authority to work on the upcoming Purple Line. Takoma re-opened on June 28, with the rest of the stations scheduled to re-open on September 1st. [13]

Station layout

Like Brookland–CUA station, the Red Line island platform at Silver Spring is slightly curved, with convex mirrors located on the inbound side of the platform to aid train operators in making sure the area is clear before closing the doors. There is a pocket track just beyond the WMATA station, which used to be for turning back trains towards Grosvenor–Strathmore station in select rush hour trips. [14] The MARC station straddles the Metro station, with a single track and side platform on either side of the Red Line. The MARC platforms are slightly offset from the Metro platform and are connected to each other by a pedestrian bridge. Access between the Red Line and other services is provided via an elevator or escalators from the platform to two ground-level mezzanines, one at the north end of the platform connecting to Colesville Road and one at the center of the platform serving the Transit Center and Metropolitan Branch Trail. Silver Spring station is accessible, with a single elevator between the Metro platform and lobby. Installation of redundant elevators is planned as part of the construction of the Purple Line. [15]

Public art

Penguin Rush Hour

The Silver Spring station is also home to Penguin Rush Hour, a 100-by-8-foot (30.5 by 2.4 m) mural painted by Sally Callmer Thompson, depicting penguins as Metro customers during rush hour. [16] Although originally intended to be a temporary exhibit, the mural placed at the station in the early 1990s has become a symbol of the downtown area of Silver Spring. In 2004, the Silver Spring Regional Center, a county government facility, commissioned the original artist to restore the mural, which was damaged by the elements and missing sections, for approximately $30,000. In 2004-2005, the mural was removed for the restoration, with the promise that it would be returned by the end of 2005. [17] Subsequently, the county decided to postpone re-installation of the mural until completion of the new transit center. [18] In March 2017 a digital copy of the mural, printed on aluminum sheets for durability, was installed at the transit center. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Line (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro rapid transit line

The Red Line is a rapid transit line of the Washington Metro system, consisting of 27 stations in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., in the United States. It is a primary line through downtown Washington and the oldest and busiest line in the system. It forms a long, narrow "U," capped by its terminal stations at Shady Grove and Glenmont.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twinbrook station</span> Washington Metro station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takoma station</span> Washington Metro station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Glen station</span> Washington Metro station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Route 384</span> Highway in Maryland, United States

Maryland Route 384 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs 0.53 miles (0.85 km) from MD 390 east to U.S. Route 29 and MD 97 within Silver Spring. MD 384 is a six-lane divided highway that forms the southernmost portion of Colesville Road, a major commuting route and one of the two main streets, with Georgia Avenue, within downtown Silver Spring, the commercial hub of southeastern Montgomery County. The state highway also provides access to the Silver Spring station of the Washington Metro, which serves as a transit hub for commuter rail and bus service for the surrounding area. MD 384 and its railroad underpass were constructed in the late 1920s. The highway was expanded to a divided highway in the mid-1970s.

Flash BRT is a bus rapid transit network in Montgomery County, Maryland with one operational line and two more under development. When complete, the network will run along U.S. 29 from Silver Spring to Burtonsville, Maryland Route 355 from Bethesda to Clarksburg, and Maryland Route 586 from Wheaton to Rockville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Carrollton–Fort Totten Line</span> Bus route in Washington, D.C. region

The New Carrollton–Fort Totten Line, designated Route F6, is a weekday-only bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between the New Carrollton station of the Orange Line station of the Washington Metro and the Fort Totten station of the Red and Green Lines of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 30 minutes during peak hours and 60 minutes all other times, weekdays only. F6 trips are roughly 60 minutes. This route provides weekday service between Fort Totten and New Carrollton stations without having to take the train into Downtown DC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Carrollton–Silver Spring Line</span>

The New Carrollton–Silver Spring Line, designated as Route F4, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between New Carrollton station of the Orange Line of the Washington Metro and Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 12 minutes between 7AM and 9PM, and 30-60 minutes after 9PM. F4 trips are roughly 62 minutes. The line mainly provides service on the East-West Highway corridor from the eastern portion of Prince George's County to Montgomery County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Park–Bethesda Line</span>

The College Park–Bethesda Line, designated Route J4, was a rush hour-only MetroExtra bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between the College Park–University of Maryland station of the Green and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro and Bethesda station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The J4 operated throughout the neighborhoods in Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland. This line ran along current construction for the upcoming Purple Line between College Park and Bethesda.

The Laurel–Burtonsville Express Line, designated Route Z7, is an express peak hour-only bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station, which is served by the Red Line of the Washington Metro, and South Laurel Park & Ride Lot in Laurel, Maryland. The line operates every 35–45 minutes during rush hours only in the peak direction with a few trips in the off-peak direction. Z7 trips are roughly 65 minutes long. This route provides service between Silver Spring and Laurel via Burtonsville by bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethesda–Silver Spring Line</span>

The Bethesda–Silver Spring Line, designated Route J1, J2, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and Westfield Montgomery Transit Center. Route J1 operates in the weekday peak direction only while route J2 operates daily. J1 trips roughly takes 45 minutes while J2 trips take roughly 55 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Avenue–Maryland Line</span>

The Georgia Avenue–Maryland Line, designated Route Y2, Y7, Y8, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney or the Georgia Ave – ICC Park & Ride Lot (Y7). The line operates every 20 minutes during the weekday peak hour and weekend late nights, 30 minutes all other times on weekdays, and 40–45 minutes on weekends. Y2 trips are roughly 55 minutes long, Y7 trips are roughly 62 minutes long, and Y8 trips are roughly 70 minutes long. This route provides service along Georgia Avenue in Maryland providing service to multiple communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veirs Mill Road Line</span> Bus route in Washington Metropolitan Area

The Veirs Mill Road Line, designated Route Q2, Q4, Q6, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station and Shady Grove station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 16–30 minutes at all times at a combined frequency of 10 minutes during weekday peak-hours, 15 minutes during the weekday midday and weekends, and 30 minutes during the late nights. All trips roughly take 55–60 minutes. The line operates along the Veirs Mill Road corridor connecting passengers to various Metro stations and communities.

The Twinbrook–Silver Spring Line, designated Route J5, was a bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station and Twinbrook station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The line operated during the weekday peak-hours only providing express service along the Capital Beltway connecting both Silver Spring and Rockville without having to enter Washington D.C. The line was discontinued on June 25, 2017 due to a budget crisis.

The Colesville–Ashton Line, designated Route Z2, is a weekday peak-hour bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Olney and Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 30–35 minutes during the weekday peak hours only. Route Z2 trips are roughly 60–70 minutes long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Street Line</span> Bus route in Washington, D.C. area

The 16th Street Line, designated Route S2, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station, which is served by the Red Line of the Washington Metro, and Federal Triangle in Downtown Washington, D.C. with late night and early morning trips extending to L'Enfant Plaza station which is served by the Blue, Orange, Silver, Green and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 10 minutes during the weekday peak hours, 15 minutes during the weekday midday and Saturday, 20 minutes on Sunday, and 20 minutes late nights. Trips are roughly 55-60 minutes long.

The Silver Spring–Fairland Line designated Route Z6 or Z8 are daily bus routes operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Burtonsville Crossing Park & Ride lot (Z6) and Greencastle Park & Ride Lot (Z8), and Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 20–30 minutes at all times. Both trips are roughly 60 minutes long.

References

  1. "MARC Station Information". Maryland Transit Administration . Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  2. Johnson, Janis (February 4, 1978). "Exuberant Crowd Celebrates Metro's Arrival in Maryland". The Washington Post . p. B1.
  3. "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. Massimo, Rick; Alim, Teta (July 7, 2020). "Metro investigates after Red Line train derails outside Silver Spring station". WTOP.
  5. Shaver, Katherine (January 26, 2022). "Md. board approves $3.4 billion contract to complete Purple Line". The Washington Post.
  6. 1 2 Bowser, Alan (September 28, 2008). "Silver Spring Neighborhoods: Disruption to come with transit center construction - Gazette". Silver Spring Neighborhoods. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  7. Montgomery County Department of General Services, Rockville, MD (July 12, 2011). "Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center." Archived July 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Zapana, Victor (October 11, 2012). "Silver Spring Transit Center will open by September, officials say". The Washington Post.
  9. Statement of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett Concerning the Silver Spring Transit Center (March 19, 2013).
  10. Repairs on trouble-plagued Silver Spring transit center scheduled to resume next week
  11. Lazo, Luz (August 20, 2015). "Metro plans Sept. 20 opening of problem-plagued Silver Spring Transit Center". The Washington Post.
  12. Phillips, Susan; Goncalves, Delia (September 20, 2015). "Long delayed Silver Spring Transit Center opens Sunday". WUSA9 News. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  13. "5 Red Line stations are now closed for weeks of summer construction". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  14. Emerson, Sean (February 21, 2019). "Some Red Line riders only get half the service. When will Metro end the Silver Spring turnback?". ggwash.org. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  15. "These Metro stations have backup elevators". Greater Greater Washington . Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  16. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, D.C. "Silver Spring Station: Penguin Rush Hour, 1989." Community Outreach - MetroArts. Accessed July 12, 2011.
  17. Levine, Susan (March 5, 2006). "Update: In Silver Spring, Metro Penguins Will Rise Again". The Washington Post.
  18. Celebrate Silver Spring Foundation. "Penguin Rush Hour Artist: Sally Callmer." Silver Spring Downtown. Accessed July 18, 2011.
  19. Kelly, John (March 28, 2017). "After a very long migration, the penguins have returned to Silver Spring". The Washington Post.
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