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By the time Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority receives all 5000 and 6000 series cars it has in production and on order, its rail car fleet will number 1,012. But spaces available to maintain and store cars would be 20 spaces short of a required 15 percent of the fleet, or 142 spaces.



So WMATA officials plan to hold a public hearing Sept. 30 to receive public input about expanding the existing eight-car maintenance facility at New Carrollton yard to 28 spaces, and constructing an adjacent parking garage. The combined expansion would cost $37 million.



The yard’s expansion was identified as one of the agency’s highest priorities needed to support the introduction of eight-car trains (which will coincide with the receipt of the 6000 series cars).



In March, WMATA’s board approved completion of the design and an amendment to its fiscal-year 2002 budget, transferring system access capacity program funds to the agency’s FY03 budget. The project would be the first step taken toward expanding the system’s core capacity.



— Kathi Kube