-112 1. Proposal for Additional Metrobus Services 1. Background The proposals outlined in Section "E" (Proposed Metrobus Changes) consider route adjustments to meet only current operating conditions. In Virginia, new services are necessary to meet the trend of increasing ridership and to link high density areas not currently served by the Metrobus system with the rapid rail system. This section considers areas where bus routes should be added or adjusted to meet these new demands. 2. Establish Rush Hour Route 17K It is proposed to establish a new rush hour Route 17K from Middleridge to the Pentagon also serving the communities of Country Club View, Oak Walk and Kings Park West. This route would operate as follows: From Middleridge via Paynes Church Road, Ox Road, Initially, three a.m. and three p.m. commute period trips would be operated. This proposal would require three additional vehicles, and would operate 33,264 miles annually. 3. Increase Midday Frequency on Route 20 and Establish New It is proposed to increase the midday frequency of service on Route 20 from 60 minutes to 30 minutes by establishing Route 20N from the Northern Virginia Community College, as follows: From Northern Virginia Community College via Lake In addition, rush hour Route 20X would be extended from Fairfax Hospital to NVCC and redesignated 20N. The This proposal would not require any additional rush hour buses but would increase the base requirement by three buses. proposal would result in an increase of 86,688 miles annually. 4. Establish Rush Hour Route 20M It is proposed to establish rush hour service between Annandale and the Rosslyn Metro Station, as follows: -113 From Annandale, via Maple Place, Annandale Road and This proposal would require two additional a.m. and p.m. buses and would operate 12,096 miles annually. 5. Extend Rush Hour Route 3M It is proposed to extend Route 3M service from McLean to McLean Hamlet, as follows: From the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Chain This proposal would require two additional a.m. and p.m. buses and would operate 4,132 miles annually. This route would provide direct service from McLean Hamlet to the Rosslyn Metro Station. 6. Establish Rush Hour Route 9D It is proposed to establish rush hour service between the Fort Belvoir area and the National Airport Metro Station, as follows: From bus terminal at Mount Vernon Road and Hudson The proposal would require three additional a.m. and p.m. buses and would operate 23,940 miles annually. November 18, 1975 Request (continued) Page 3 Question 8. Submit supporting documentation and analysis for the 15 percent contingency estimate. In reviewing the cost estimates consideration has been given to establishing a contingency to cover cost of such imponderables and unforeseeable delays as those identified by GAO. The purpose of the contingency is to cover possible cost increases but not to cover potential cost increase. For example, alignment revisions will be subject to rigorous application of the WMATA add-on policy. Summary sheets detailing the contingency allowance are attached. WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY The Metro capital cost November 1975 forecast is $4,650.7 million. At the strong suggestion of the General Accounting Office, the Authority has been following the practice of quarterly adjustments of the capital cost estimate since May 1974. The current estimate provides for all identifiable cost increases and decreases which can be quantified, including potential cost growth such as current designer estimates, contract modifications, and delays associated with strikes, litigation and floods, and the Shady Grove adjustment. It also includes the capitalization of preoperations and Phase I operations. A contingency of fifteen percent beyond the forecasted estimate is included to cover cost of imponderables and unforeseeable delays which cannot be quantified but which can reasonably be expected to occur. Use of a contingency was also suggested by the General Accounting Office in its review of WMATA construction costs. The contingency would cover such items as the following: Route alignment revision, including that dictated by Federal law Capitalization of spare parts, test equipment, motor vehicles Further delays resulting from strikes, litigation, etc. New environmental requirements New safety requirements (Railroad Safety Board and Fire/Police Also, Urban Mass Transit Administration requires that a contingency be included in grant applications. Fifteen percent was the approved contingency in the UMTA grant growing out of the transfer of interstate highway funds resulting from highway projects deleted by the District of Columbia. Fifteen percent of the unexpended forecast system cost is $467.0 million and appears reasonable and adequate. In the light of an assumption to finance completion of the system through the transfer of interstate highway funds, it is assumed that any necessary financing of contingency items will be covered by an increasing level of available interstate highway funds which continue to escalate to the point of grant approval. Strong Board and staff control would continue efforts to keep the ceiling on the total Metro cost to $4,650.7 million, or as close to that amount as possible. Revised Dec 23, 1975 |