Ride-On fares to get tricky with train transfers

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 9, 2008

Updated Dec 9, 2008, at 9:30 p.m.

Rocking the no. 1 Ride-On bus from Grubb Street, or the no. 2 from Lyttonsville, to the Red Line at Silver Spring station? If so, the county and Metro have changes in store for you.

Starting Jan 4, 2009, commuters who use the SmartTrip electronic fare card get a 50-cent discount when transferring from a Ride-On bus to Metro rail. However, passengers lose their usual 90-cent discount on the ride home, when they transfer from Metro to the Ride-On system.

That’s because both the Metro and Ride-On systems are eliminating paper transfer slips, which give rail riders a break on bus transfers. Translation: exit the Red Line, and expect to drop a full fare to ride the no. 12 down Wayne Avenue.

That may not be the case for too long, explained Esther Bowring, a county spokesperson. The county council might lop 50 cents off the Ride-On fare for passengers transferring from Metro rail with a SmartTrip card.

Let’s do the math. In this example, Joe Shmoe takes a Ride-On bus and Metro train to get to work in The District, and does the reverse on the way home. Under the current game plan, Shmoe gets no discount on the way to work, but gets 90 cents off his ride home.

If the county council approves the proposed change, Shmoe gets a 50-cent break in the morning and another 50-cent break in the evening. Those savings come to one buck cash money.

The county council gets its first hard look at the proposal on Jan 13, and if approved, the discount would go into effect on Jan 25. But until that meshugas is sorted out, rail riders must pay the full $1.35 ($1.25 with the SmartTrip card) to transfer onto a Ride-On bus, Bowring said.

The bus-to-rail price break, as well as free bus-to-bus transfers, drop for SmartTrip card users only, Bowring emphasized. And because paper transfer slips are out, so are free bus-to-bus transfers and round-trip bus rides for those paying cash, she added.

Translation: go electronic, or else pay the full fare each time you hop a bus.

Update: The headline was edited to be less alarmist. Also, the content was edited for clarity. I fucking hate math stories. — JD (Dec 9, 2008)

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Public space reveals secret place in South Silver Spring

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 9, 2008

A public plaza between The Veridian apartments and The Silverton condos is really coming together.

Crews have already installed stylish wood benches along the plaza’s entrance on East-West Highway and Blair Mill Road. A few steps from the curb, a round platform waits for public art or maybe a fountain to plug into its protruding wires. Further away from the street, towards the CSX train tracks, a small nook lures visitors to rest on its benches around a small patch of sod.

But just past that nook, beyond the diminutive boxwood shrubs and bare ornamental trees, one finds a flagstone trail in the mulch. The trail lures one closer to the train tracks, up a concrete staircase (above), then to a walkway littered with cable and splintered plywood, sandwiched between the tracks and the apartment building’s garage.

And that’s when it comes into view: a concrete staircase leading into the ground (above), down to a fenced-off tunnel connecting South Silver Spring with the historic B&O railroad station on Georgia and Sligo Avenues.

The tunnel (below) is one of two off-street pedestrian connections between South Silver Spring and the Ripley District. (The other is a bridge behind NOAA office buildings near Colesville Road. That route leads to Ramsey Avenue.) According to Jerry McCoy, with the Silver Spring Historical Society, the tunnel was built in 1945 with the B&O railroad station.

Around 2005, the county-owned tunnel was fenced off to keep pedestrians on Georgia from walking into an active construction site on East-West Highway. There were also issues of people using the tunnel as a public toilet or temporary shelter, McCoy said.

So with construction on East-West Highway complete, does a walkway behind The Veridian signal the tunnel’s reopening? Nope, said Gary Stith, director of Silver Spring’s regional center. Expect the chain link fences to remain at the tunnel’s two openings, keeping the homeless, public pissers and pedestrians out.

Photos by Ron Pace and Jennifer Deseo for The Penguin.

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Planners: Snip county’s string around Silver Place project

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 8, 2008

Sure, the county’s planning department could use some cash to design its new offices on Georgia Avenue and Spring Street. But planning commissioners said Thursday they didn’t want any big debts — financial or otherwise — with the county government.

“I’m worried about not having this project completely under our control so we can keep moving,” commish Joe Alfandre told staffers at the board’s weekly meeting. “The more we’re needy, the tougher this is going to be for us.”

At least $1 million is needed to score preliminary architectural designs for the board’s new auditorium, a seven-story office tower, and the public atrium between them (above). That bit of cash could be borrowed (with interest) from the county council, Al Warfield, with the planning department’s financial office, explained to the board.

But then, the project would need an undetermined assload more money from the county to get architectural details cooking in earnest. The planning department hits up the county council for an appropriation sometime this month, though the council won’t work on it until after its holiday recess, project manager Dan Hertz said.

And it’s that county appropriation that has commish Alfandre sweating. “We might be beholden a litlle more than we think if we have to depend on the county,” he told his colleagues.

What the county might behold unto the planning department is unclear. So far, early concepts for Silver Place drop 150,000 square-feet of office space on Georgia and Spring, plus 305 residential units towards the site’s northeast end (below).

Community members previously said they worried about traffic volumes with the number of apartments to be built there. Meanwhile, people in the business community complained about Silver Place’s zero retail space. It’s unknown where any of the county council members stand on either issue.

Still, the planning board doesn’t want too much of the county’s money if it means wearing a studded, black-leather leash around its collective neck. Instead, the department might tap into “a couple hundred thousand” left over from June’s public design meetings, conduct DIY engineering surveys, and negotiate with dime-a-dozen architects scrounging for work in this crappy economic environment, project manager Hertz suggested.

The planning department meets with the county council’s planning, housing and economic development committee Monday afternoon to discuss the project. Construction on the office space could start in 2010, with completion in 2012.

Renderings courtesy of SilverPlaceWorkshop.com.

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The Early Bird

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 8, 2008

It’s freakin’ cold outside — time to pack on the winter blubber. And what better way to do that than with a fat assload of mini Elvis burgers!

On Wednesday, The Silver Spring Penguin holds its annual holiday party at Jackie’s Restaurant (8081 Georgia Ave) starting at 6:00 p.m. You might also know this gig as the launch party for Silver Spring’s “Buy Local” guide, as well as the monthly mixer for the South Silver Spring Neighborhood Association. Whatever.

There’s no cover, and the bar’s doling out cheap booze, so be there. Trust me, you’ll need a drink to get through this week:

Monday

3:00 p.m. The county council’s planning, housing and economic development committee reviews a report from the affordable housing task force. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville) and is open to the public.

6:30 p.m. The county’s planning board receives an update on public testimony collected during recent meetings on the Purple Line mass-transit project. This free event takes place at the board’s auditorium (8787 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Silver Spring’s citizens advisory board holds its monthly meeting at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center (2450 Lyttonsville Rd). This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. The county’s state delegates hold public hearings to discuss several bills affecting Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. One bill would allow Montgomery County’s planning board to appoint a special prosecutor. Another would require public development projects to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, and to supply bicycle parking.

These free events take place at the county executive’s office building (101 Monroe St, Rockville) and are open to the public. Click here to testify.

7:30 p.m. The county’s planning board reviews its development program for Silver Place, a mixed-use development proposed for Georgia Avenue at Spring Street. This free event takes place at the board’s auditorium (8787 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

Tuesday

11:30 a.m. The county council hears public testimony on a $14.5 million appropriation to construct a parking garage at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. This event takes place at the county council office building (100 Maryland Ave) and is open to the public. Call (240) 777-7931 to testify.

11:35 a.m. The county council hears public testimony on bill 35-08, which would use red-light and speed camera fines to pay for ambulance services. This event takes place at the county council office building (100 Maryland Ave) and is open to the public. Call (240) 777-7931 to testify.

7:30 p.m. Richard Palmieri, from Siemens Transportation Systems, discusses the latest developments in light-rail technology. This free event takes place at the Silver Spring Center (8818 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

Wednesday

6:00 p.m. The Latino Economic Development Corp. celebrates the launch of its guide to Silver Spring’s locally owned retailers. This event takes place at Jackie’s Restaurant (8081 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

6:00 p.m. Richard Spinrad, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s oceanic and atmospheric research office, discusses how oceanography “ended the Cold War, helps cure cancer and fuels our economy.” This event takes place at the Blair Mansion Inn restaurant (7711 Eastern Ave) and is open to the public.

Thursday

9:30 a.m. The county council’s health and human services committee discusses plans for the county’s hospitals. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville) and is open to the public.

7:00 p.m. The county’s state delegates hold public hearings on several bills, including one that would funnel some of the state’s gas tax revenues to maintain state roads in Montgomery County; one that prevents private red-light and speed camera contractors to base fees on the number of citations issued; and one that prevents landlords from evicting tenants without “just cause”.

These free events take place at the county executive’s office building (101 Monroe St, Rockville) and are open to the public. Click here to testify.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Rougenair.

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This Weekend

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 5, 2008

Cold weather usually signals a few things for employees at Penguin corporate headquarters. First, it means all Penguins who haven’t already added to their winter blubber need to bulk up fast. Expect ferocious gluttony from the guys in the mailroom.

Second, it means the building manager has the heat cranked — not a good thing for Penguins, who tend to develop dry skin and winter rashes. Since nobody likes an ashy bird, I’m spending the weekend in a tub of cocoa butter.

And then there are those ever-waning daylight hours, signaling newsroom staffers to nod off at around 3:00 p.m. I could jack them up on Red Bull and donuts, but if all else fails, I’ll have to schedule official siestas.

Stay warm, and enjoy the weekend!

Friday

6:30 p.m. Space 7:10 at Kefa Cafe (963 Bonifant St) celebrates the opening of “Double Visions”, an exhibit of collages and mixed-media art by Sharon Burton and Sherry Burton Ways. This event is free and open to the public.

10:00 p.m. Electronic music meets multimedia at Loda, South Silver Spring’s weekly groove. Hit it at Gallery Lounge (1115 East-West Hwy) with $10 and convincing ID for the guy at the door.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. The Silver Spring Historical Society hosts a holiday-themed open house at the B&O rail station (8100 Georgia Ave) until 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

12:00 p.m. The Mayorga Coffee Factory (8040 Georgia Ave) hosts an artist market, featuring works by 20 local artists. There is no admission fee.

2:30 p.m. The Downtown Silver Spring shopping center hosts a holiday-themed celebration until 5:00 p.m. on Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Dr, between Georgia Ave and Fenton St). The musical entertainment and carriage rides are free and open to the public.

6:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave) celebrates the opening of “The Sky is Not the Limit” and “Grade”, two exhibits on display in its second-floor gallery. This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. Musical Arts International presents violinists Richard Chang and Xi Chen (China), violist Uri Wassertzug (USA), cellist Heleen Du Plessis (South Africa) and pianist Li-Ly Chang (USA) performing Schubert, Dvorak and holiday favorites. This event takes place at the Calvary Lutheran Church (9545 Georgia Ave). Tickets cost $19 each ($14 for students and seniors).

Sunday

8:15 p.m. The Skins schlep to Bawlmore to play the Ravens. Get cozy with that northbound I-95 traffic, or bask in the glow of NBC.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Coda.

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Council members favor Wayne Avenue library

By Jennifer Deseo | Dec 4, 2008

ROCKVILLE — Members of the county council’s human services committee said Thursday that they would recommend a design that plants Silver Spring’s new library on Wayne Avenue (below), with parking across the street.

However, they weren’t ready to give a thumbs up to a proposed pedestrian bridge between the library and the Wayne Avenue parking garage. That structure might contradict Silver Spring’s urban-renewal plan and could be replaced with a street-level crosswalk, they said.

The committee’s partial stamp of approval for this design falls in line (sort of) with MoCo exec Ike Leggett’s recommendation. In Leggett’s scenario, a five-story, 63,000 square-foot library would sit on the corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street, with the pedestrian bridge linking the library with upper levels of the garage. An accompanying 10-story residential project would sit on Fenton and Bonifant Streets.

Council member Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) admitted there was no consensus among residents over library designs. Still, she said she was willing to move forward with Leggett’s idea if the pedestrian bridge could be examined further.

The problem with the bridge is this: A 1999 game plan for Silver Spring’s urban renewal does not mention an elevated pedestrian bridge between the Wayne Avenue garage and a building across the street. Furthermore, reps from the planning board and Leggett’s office weren’t sure if the bridge would be in the urban renewal zone.

“The master plan is a guide, not a mandate,” Diane Schwartz Jones, assistant chief administrative officer for Leggett, told the committee. “We don’t have to follow it if a pedestrian bridge makes sense.”

Ervin also felt the $684,000 bridge could be replaced by a street-level, mid-block crosswalk. But David Dise, chief of the general-services department, argued that residents didn’t feel safe crossing that street. And one woman repping the Friends of the Silver Spring Library said the bridge was a deal breaker for her organization.

“Putting people on the street will deprive them of library services,” she told the committee. “For handicapped people, for mothers with small children … without that bridge, this design couldn’t be endorsed.”

To settle the issue, committee chair George Leventhal (D-At large) recommended public meetings on the pedestrian bridge alone. The council will reconsider the matter after the December recess, he said.

Leggett’s design beat out another that would have set the library on Fenton and Bonifant Streets, and the residential building next to The Crescent condominium on Wayne Avenue. Reps from the planning board told council members Thursday they favored a variation on this theme that reduced the apartment building’s height. This design would have been consistent with Fenton Village’s “shorter profile”.

But Leventhal dismissed the planning board’s recommendation because it meant fewer residential units in the apartment building. Some portion of those units must be priced for the MPDU and workforce housing programs.

Updated: The pedestrian bridge might go against Silver Spring’s urban-renewal plan, not its sector plan as previously posted. Thanks to Glenn Kreger, planning department, for clearing that up. — JD (Dec 5, 2008).

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