Since late last month, when the idea of the extending the Yellow Line beyond its terminus at Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center was formally introduced to the public, moves have been made that might finally make the extension a reality.

Council-member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), assured residents attending the Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association meeting last night that he believes he will be able to secure funding to extend the Yellow Line to Ft. Totten beginning as early as January 2007.

In a joint presentation with WMATA’s Jim Hughes and Takis Salpeas, Graham outlined four potential plans to increase Metro service during off-peak hours to the Mid City Green Line stations, based on a study conducted by WMATA. After outlining the financial estimates and political realities involved with each of the plans, Graham and the WMATA officials seemed to be in agreement that the best course of action would be to extend the Yellow Line, during off-peak hours, to Ft. Totten. Such an extension would cost an estimated $1.25 million in capital costs and $3 million in annual operating expenses.

Graham sent D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams a letter yesterday requesting $1.5 million to cover operational expenses for the plan for 6 months, beginning January 2007. However, Graham also predicted that should the mayor fail to allocate those funds, he would be able to come up with the money on his own when he assumes the chairmanship of the budget committee for Metro next week. Graham discussed the potential to dip into $2 million already set aside within the Metro-WMATA joint development fund for parking development along the U Street corridor to pay for the plan. In the letter, Graham wrote:

The demand for off-peak trains to our inner-city Green Line stations at Shaw, U Street, Columbia Heights and Petworth is already beginning to outstrip supply. For example, today, Columbia Heights sees more than 17,000 riders on an average weekend. Yet this figure does not include the 825 new residences being built around the station or the now-certain 525,000 square-foot retail development that will draw thousands of visitors to the neighborhood each day.

Graham also advocated running every other Blue Line train up towards Greenbelt from L’Enfant Plaza during peak hours to relieve congestion on the Green Line during rush hour.

This post was written by Sommer Mathis, with additional writing by Martin Austermuhle. Picture snapped by Olivia Leigh.