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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) board this week approved plans to build a new Metro Transit Police Department substation on the Fort Totten Metrorail Station site.



The $5 million station will be designed to support 140 officers and accommodate future growth. The three-story, 18,500-square-foot station would feature meeting rooms, a 43-space parking lot, impound lot, detective and administrative offices, crime scene and evidence storage spaces, locker rooms and a gym.



The facility also would include training, motorcycle operations and bicycle functions. The station would be built near the Fort Totten transfer station, providing officers quicker access to rail lines.



Funding for the station is included in WMATA’s 2003 to 2008 Infrastructure Renewal Program budget. The agency plans to hold public hearings on the general plans and environmental evaluation.



Meanwhile, WMATA recently added two trains to the Green Line during peak morning hours. The six-car trains each make one-way trips from Branch Avenue to Greenbelt to relieve congestion on the morning trains.



The trains are each expected to carry up to 1,000 passengers per trip.



The additional trains are part of 192-car order for 5000 Series rail cars WMATA placed with CAF in 2001.