WASHINGTON — The D.C. Council approved $305 million in emergency measures Tuesday for Metro improvements around the planned RFK Stadium redevelopment, committing $300 million to the Stadium-Armory station and another $5 million to planning a new bus rapid-transit route.
The largest agreement authorizes the District to reimburse Metro for improvements at the street, mezzanine and platform levels of Stadium-Armory station. The money was previously allocated across the city’s capital improvement plan as officials prepare for substantially larger crowds expected at the RFK campus.
Metro has recommended expanding the existing station rather than constructing a new Metrorail station closer to the stadium. Earlier planning found that without additional capacity, moving tens of thousands of transit riders away from major events could take roughly two hours.
A separate agreement provides up to $5 million for planning, environmental work, public outreach and preliminary design of the first phase of a bus rapid-transit service Metro has tentatively named the Gold Line.
The initial route would run along H Street NE and Benning Road NE between Union Station and the RFK campus, providing connections to Metrorail, Amtrak, MARC, VRE and intercity buses. District officials have also funded planning for possible extensions farther east toward Benning Road station and west beyond Union Station.
The measures were approved as emergency legislation while permanent versions proceed through the council process.
