Largo Blue Line Rail Extension, USA

Largo town is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA. The Blue Line Extension to Largo Town Centre will add 3.1 miles to the existing Blue Line of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority metrorail system. The extension of the rail network involves work on two new stations, lines, track work, signalling and other systems.

The 3.1 mile extension is to help relieve the area’s severe traffic congestion and provide more public transit service. It is hoped that after the extension the number of daily transit passengers will increase by an estimated 20,000 customers.

LARGO RAIL EXTENSION FUNDING

In May 2000, the Metro Board of Directors authorised the General Manager to complete and execute a Local Funding Agreement (LFA) with the Maryland Department of Transportation for $173.6 million, the local share of the project. The Board also authorised the General Manager to complete and execute a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Federal Transit Administration and file a grant application for the federal share of the project, which is a maximum of $260.3 million. The US Department of Transportation entered into a FFGA with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority on 18 December 2000.

TWO NEW STATIONS

This project includes the building of two new stations, the extension will start at the current Addison Road Station and will continue east to a new station in Summerfield and end at the new station in Largo Town Centre. Parking spaces and park and ride facilities will be available at both new stations.

On completion the project will have 1,700 route feet of at-grade double track and 10,500 route feet of underground/ covered structure, and three aerial structures with a combined length of 2,000 route feet.

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

In response to community concerns the original plans for the Blue Line Extension were modified and the changes were documented in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The modifications included converting open-air sections to underground sections and lengthening the bridge over a stream. Placing the extension deeper in the ground and converting the open-air sections of the extension to underground or covered sections was one response to concerns. The modifications also included shifting the alignment southwards at Centennial Village so that the separation between the nearest homes and the track increase from 90 to 200ft.

In addition there was the adjusting of the alignment outside Capital Beltway, including the southward shift of the Largo Town Centre Station to facilitate two planned development opportunities. The cost of these modifications was $37 million, increasing the total programme cost from $397 million to $434 million.

LANE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

The Lane Construction Corporation of Meridan, Connecticut awarded the three contracts for the Blue Line extension Project. The first contract is for clearing the area before the extension can take place. The contract includes the installation of storm water and sediment control devices and fencing off the construction areas. It also included the moving of underground utility lines, the construction of a bridge over the Beltway, and lowering Harry S. Truman Drive to accommodate the elevated track above.

The awarding of the second contract took place in October 2001. The contract was for the lines, trackwork and systems, construction began in December 2001.

The awarding of the third contract took place in November 2001. The contract was for the construction of the two new stations and work began in January 2002.

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