Metro's Multi-Million Dollar Storage Yard is More Than Just a House for Railcars

SUITLAND, MD-With the Clark Construction Group Inc. at the helm, the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority has wrapped up development of the new $90 million Branch Ave. storage facility. This sprawling property, however, offers a bevy of services that extend beyond the simple storage of 178 of WMATA’s railcars. With six buildings totaling 87,500 sf, the compound has space to accommodate everything from maintenance activities to fueling services.

Baltimore-based firm Rummel, Klepper & Kahl LLP designed the combination concrete, masonry, steel and brick structures, which include a 9,700-sf, two-story operations and maintenance building. “It’s the center of our interior car cleaning and maintenance services,” WMATA’s Steven Taub shares with GlobeSt.com. There is also a single-story, 2,000-sf chemical equipment storage facility, and a 2,000-sf salt dome fueling facility for housing salt. “It also dispenses fuel for our non revenue vehicles,” Taub adds. A 4,000-sf power room also adorns the property, as does a 12,500-sf exterior car-washing structure. Finally, the yard features an all-important car maintenance facility. This two-story building consists of 55,000 sf of space on the first floor for inspection and emergency repair services, and 2,300 sf atop containing the control tower.