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College Park–University of Maryland station

(Redirected from College Park (MARC station))

College Park–University of Maryland station is a Washington Metro and MARC station located in College Park, Maryland, near the University of Maryland, College Park campus. It is served by the Metro Green Line and limited service on the MARC Camden Line. The light rail Purple Line is planned to begin service at the station in 2027.

College Park–University of MD
The Metro platform in September 2021
General information
Location4931 Calvert Road &
7202 Bowdoin Avenue[1]
College Park, Maryland
Coordinates38°58′42″N 76°55′42″W / 38.9784°N 76.9282°W / 38.9784; -76.9282
Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Line(s)Capital Subdivision
Platforms1 island platform (Washington Metro)
2 side platforms (Capital Subdivision)
Tracks4 (2 for each service)
Connections
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking1,870 spaces
Bicycle facilities81 racks, 40 lockers
AccessibleMetro only[1]
Other information
Station codeE09
History
OpenedDecember 11, 1993 (December 11, 1993)
Rebuilt2021
Passengers
20221,352 daily[2] (Metro)
Rank58th (Metro)
Services
Preceding station MARC Following station
Riverdale
towards Union Station
 Camden Line Greenbelt
towards Camden Station
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Hyattsville Crossing
toward Branch Avenue
 Green Line Greenbelt
Terminus
Former services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Hyattsville Crossing
toward Huntington
 Yellow Line Greenbelt
Terminus
Hyattsville Crossing
toward Farragut North
 Green Line Commuter Shortcut
Future services
Preceding station Maryland Transit Administration Following station
Baltimore Avenue–UMD
toward Bethesda
 Purple Line Riverdale Park North–UMD
toward New Carrollton
Location
Map

Station layout

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MARC platforms at College Park in August 2018

The station is located on the south side of Campus Parkway, about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the campus center and adjacent to the College Park office park. The two-track Capital Subdivision (used by MARC) and the two-track Metro E Route run north-south through the station area, with the Capital Subdivision on the west side. An island platform serves Metro trains, with entrances from both sides of the rail lines leading to the underground fare concourse. Two small side platforms serve MARC trains; they have an entrance from the west side and an underpass crossing under the Metro tracks. The Metro platform is accessible, but the MARC platforms are not.

A 1,345-space parking garage and a bus plaza are located on the east side of the station. The station is served by Metrobus, The Bus, Laurel Connect-a-Ride, and a university shuttle route.

History

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The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) opened its Washington Branch, now the Capital Subdivision, in 1835. A station served the 1856-opened Maryland Agricultural College (now University of Maryland, College Park) by 1878.[3] B&O Baltimore–Washington commuter service was taken over by MARC as the Camden Line in the 1980s.

Metro service at College Park began on December 11, 1993, with the extension of the Green Line to Greenbelt.[4] The parking garage opened on June 25, 2005.[5] In May 2012, the station became the first Metro station to feature a "Bike & Ride" bike station. A mesh enclosure built into the adjacent parking garage, the facility can hold up to 120 bikes and has 24-hour access.[6][7]

 
Southbound Yellow Line train approaching College Park in May 2022

Metro Yellow Line service was extended to Greenbelt, serving College Park, during peak hours from June 18, 2012, to June 25, 2017, as park of the "Rush+" program.[8][9] It was again extended to Greenbelt at all times on May 25, 2019.[10] From March 26 to June 28, 2020, the station was closed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[11][12] The Metro station was closed from May 29 to September 6, 2021, while the platform was rebuilt.[13][14] Yellow Line service was suspended from September 10, 2022, to May 7, 2023. It was cut back to Mount Vernon Square upon reopening, no longer serving College Park.[15][16] From July 22 to September 4, 2023, the Green Line north of Fort Totten (including College Park) was closed for maintenance work.[17]

The Purple Line, a light rail line, is under construction and planned to open in 2027.[18] It will have a platform on the east side of the Metro tracks. In May 2024, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the MTA $1.4 million for design and engineering work to make the MARC station accessible. The new platforms would be 600 feet (180 m) long.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "MARC Station Information". Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rail Ridership Data Viewer". WMATA. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Vansville Dist. No. 1" (Map). Atlas of fifteen miles around Washington, including the county of Montgomery, Maryland. 1:31,680. G.M. Hopkins. 1878. p. 45. hdl:loc.gmd/g3850m.gct00186.
  4. ^ "Metro Facts" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan area Transit Authority. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2016.
  5. ^ "Officials celebrate opening of parking garage at College Park-U of MD Metrorail station" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. July 5, 2005.
  6. ^ "Construction begins on Metro's first Bike & Ride facility at College Park" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. October 6, 2011.
  7. ^ "First Bike & Ride facility opens at College Park station" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 15, 2012.
  8. ^ "Metro unveils new system map in preparation for Rush Plus" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 19, 2012.
  9. ^ "Metro prepares for changes to hours, schedules and fares this weekend" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. June 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Metro to extend Yellow Line service to Greenbelt beginning May 25" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "Metro to close additional 17 stations and selected entrances amid low-ridership, need to conserve critical cleaning supplies during COVID-19 response" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. June 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "Metro announces travel alternatives during summer platform reconstruction work" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "Four Green and Yellow Line stations reopening on Tuesday, September 7" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. September 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. June 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Metro announces Yellow Line reopening date" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. April 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Enhanced Maintenance Work during Summer 2023 to focus on custom and reliability upgrades to modernize #YourMetro" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  18. ^ Shaver, Katherine (January 26, 2022). "Md. board approves $3.4 billion contract to complete Purple Line". The Washington Post.
  19. ^ "All Stations Accessibility Program FY24 Projects". Federal Transit Administration. May 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Modernize Transit Stations, Improve Accessibility Across the Country" (Press release). Federal Transit Administration. May 28, 2024.
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