March 20, 2019

Van Hollen Urges WMATA Board to End Silver Spring Turnback

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Chairman Jack Evans urging the full Board of Directors to support the end of the Silver Spring turnback on the Red Line. At an event in December to announce the end of the Grovesnor turnback, Senator Van Hollen called for this next step, and the Metro Board of Directors’ Finance and Capital Committee recently voted to end the Silver Spring turnback.

The Senator writes, “I am writing to express my support of the proposal to end the ‘Silver Spring turnback’ of Red Line trains that was recently approved by the Metro Board of Directors’ Finance and Capital Committee. I greatly appreciate WMATA’s decision last year to end the ‘Grosvenor turnback’ on the west end of the Red Line, and I support similar treatment for riders beyond Silver Spring on the east end.

He underscores, “With nearly 11,000 riders north of Silver Spring utilizing the stations at Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont, this limitation is not only unfair for passengers who pay the same fees for reduced service but is an impediment to the economic growth of these communities. 

Senator Van Hollen closes the letter stating, “I have heard from many of my constituents who ride beyond Silver Spring and support an end to the turnback, which will deliver more regular service to their stations. I appreciate the action of Metro’s Finance and Capital Committee to expand access for these riders and urge the full Board to support this proposal.”

A copy of the letter is available here and the full text is available below:

Dear Mr. Evans:

I am writing to express my support of the proposal to end the “Silver Spring turnback” of Red Line trains that was recently approved by the Metro Board of Directors’ Finance and Capital Committee.

I greatly appreciate WMATA’s decision last year to end the “Grosvenor turnback” on the west end of the Red Line, and I support similar treatment for riders beyond Silver Spring on the east end. Since 1984, half of the trains on the Red Line have turned around at the Silver Spring station rather than continuing on to the Glenmont station at the end of the line. With nearly 11,000 riders north of Silver Spring utilizing the stations at Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont, this limitation is not only unfair for passengers who pay the same fees for reduced service but is an impediment to the economic growth of these communities. 

I have heard from many of my constituents who ride beyond Silver Spring and support an end to the turnback, which will deliver more regular service to their stations. I appreciate the action of Metro’s Finance and Capital Committee to expand access for these riders and urge the full Board to support this proposal.

I appreciate your time and consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,