Friends of Takoma Transit (FTT) is a group of residents of Takoma, DC, and Takoma Park, MD, concerned about the development of the site adjacent to the Takoma Metro Station. This land was purchased for WMATA over thirty years ago with taxpayer funds, under an agreement with the community about parking, buffers, and parkland. Accordingly, the stakeholders of this community should have a voice in any changes.

WMATA began the present debate in the late 1990's with a unilateral and unpublicized decision to have EYA build townhouses on the property. While WMATA did agree to go through a prolonged public process to discuss this decision, no change in the basic EYA concept was allowed to enter the discussion. Similarly, at a more recent public meeting, on March 4, 2006, although many were excited by a proposal submitted by FTT, participants were instructed to discuss only the EYA proposal.

Two major steps remain in the process, assuming WMATA and EYA decide to go forward: A Compact Hearing (required by the WMATA Compact, the document that created WMATA), and approval by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Although some in FTT, along with many other residents, think that there should be no housing on this site, especially given the hundreds of nearby units recently built or in process, if development is to occur, it should be consonant with the Takoma Central District Plan and the Joint Traffic Study. Transit needs should come first. Specifically, parking should not be reduced, and should be made available to local business; bus and pedestrian access should be maintained and improved, especially for the disabled; buffers protecting nearby residents should remain; and as much green space as possible should be retained.

The EYA proposal presented to the community fails to meet the above criteria. The FTT proposal demonstrates that they can be met. Our proposal, drawn by by Lex Ulibarri (a Takoma, DC, resident and architecutral designer) can be seen by clicking on the links in the box below right.

Friends of Takoma Transit wants to ensure that whatever decision is made for the Takoma Metro site, the outcome will truly be Sustainable and Transit Oriented!