MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: April 5, 2007
Status Report
1. Economic Development Committee (EDC) April Meeting Date Change
The April meeting of the Bowie EDC is moved from its regular second Wednesday
to Thursday, April 12, 2007 starting at 7:30 a.m. This one time move will
allow the EDC Chairman and the City's Economic Development Director to
attend the quarterly meeting of the State economic development association
being held in St. Mary's County. Several of the speakers (Congressman Hoyer,
Transportation Secretary Porcari, and Economic Development Secretary Edgerley)
are talking on topics of relevance to Bowie.
2. Copier Purchase for City Hall
The Prince William County School Board, a member of the Council of Governments
Purchasing Group, has solicited cooperative bids for the purchase and/or
lease of high volume copy machines. As a member jurisdiction, the City
of Bowie was listed in the rider clause included in the solicitation. The
vendor with the lowest bid for the purchase of a high volume copier meeting
the City’s specifications was TML of Manassas, Virginia at a price
of $13,283. The price quoted is below the $15,300 included in the FY07
Budget for this item. The City has purchased copiers from TML in the past
and has been satisfied with the product and the maintenance service they
provide. Section 62 of the City Charter requires the City Council be given
seven days notice prior to entering into this type of a purchase. If Council
has no objection, we will proceed with the purchase.
3. Railroad Realignment Feasibility Study
On Monday, April 2nd, a briefing was held by consultants to identify feasible
corridors where rail freight trains carrying hazardous and toxic materials
could be relocated from the Monumental Core/National Mall areas in the
District of Columbia, and to evaluate the general benefits and costs of
the most viable corridors. It was stressed that this study is a "pre-NEPA" study
that was not detailed enough to recommend a final preferred alignment.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from various
Prince George's County agencies, the National Capital Planning Commission
(NCPC), Councilman Lyles and City staff. Consultants noted that the study
identified seven (7) feasible corridors in the region, and narrowed those
down to three (3) corridors for further evaluation, which include: (1)
the construction of a tunnel from Potomac Yard to the vicinity of the District/Maryland
boundary; (2) an alignment comprised of new and existing railroad right-of-way
from the Potomac River to the Jessup, MD area (known as the Indian Head
option); and, (3) an alignment on new and existing railroad right-of-way
from the Potomac River (near the Nice Bridge) to the Jessup, MD area (known
as the Dahlgren option). Options 2 and 3 would use the existing Pope's
Creek Branch Railroad through the Bowie area. The consultants cited several
transportation benefits to Maryland from Options 2 and 3, including: potential
economic development; improved freight rail capacity in Baltimore; possible
future expansion of MARC service; and, the opportunity to realign portions
of the Pope's Creek Branch line. Estimated costs for each option include:
$5.3 billion (tunnel option); $4.3 billion (Indian Head option); and, $4.7
billion (Dahlgren option). Next steps include an assessment of possible
funding strategies and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement,
resulting in a preferred alignment. Further study of this matter has not
been funded. Delegate Hubbard contacted the City regarding this matter
and has suggested that the City communicate our perspective on this issue
to appropriate elected officials. Staff has received a copy of the consultants'
PowerPoint presentation from Delegate Hubbard that will be distributed
to City Council, and staff has requested a copy of the complete feasibility
study (which is a draft at this time.) Also attached is an
article from today’s Washington Post on this issue.
DJD/JLF/asf
Attachments