I take the MARC train into DC leaving at either 6:40, 6:53 or, at the latest 7:13. I am a handicapped driver and quite often the handicapped spots are filled before the train leaving at 6:53. Today I arrived at the station at 6:45 with no handicapped parking available at all. I have complained to Maryland Transit Authority about the lack of handicapped spaces over the past 18 months or so to no avail. The response I get is that the number of handicapped spots exceed mandatory requirements. However, where does the lack of handicapped spaces leave those daily commuters with handicapped tags who don't have to be at work until 8:30 or perhaps 9:00 and the non daily commuter travelers with handicapped tags when it comes to getting to and from the city. The two main parking lots need to be somehow reconfigured and a garage installed with ample handicapped spaces. There is a ramp going to the train platform in the far parking lot on the western side of the tracks (not the overflow lot, which is only accessible to the train platform via steps, so it is not handicapped accessible at all). However MARC will not designate a portion of that parking lot near the ramp as handicapped. The parking lots are about 50% capacity on Fridays when most government workers have scheduled their flex time off, but even on a few of those days I have found handicapped parking filled.

Why and how could you build a garage on the side that already has ample parking? You really don't have a choice except to put it on the other side of the tracks where the lot is small, otherwise you have to shut down the largest portion of the lot for months on end while you build a new garage.

Girl4Him, you are so right on the handicapped spots. They are gone by 615 am! And if you ever arrive at 610 and observe the people parking in the spots, the ones that speed up to the spot, dodge pedestrians running to the train, jump out of their cars and run, literally, down the steps, up the steps and to the train, one wonders just exactly who's handicapped parking permit that person is using!! Have talked to the MARC management about this issue and the response is really a shoulder shrug. The handicapped spots on the 7-11 side are gone by 625, 615 on Tuesdays and Wednesday. All other spots on this side are gone by 6:40. You might get one on the other side - a normal spot - if you take your life in your hands and jump into the race with the MARC passengers trying to catch the 6:40 on the station side. If not, it's the overflow lot which is not an alternative for handicapped and even the regular spots are hard to find after 730. It's a nightmare and dangerous.

I have been taking the MARC train into DC for almost 4 years now and enjoy the freedom of not having to drive into DC everyday. The MARC train is generally clean, mostly on-time and the personnel are friendly. However, the riders out of Odenton have doubled in the last year or so and this is causing both parking and overcrowding issues that is becoming crazier and more dangerous (to both pedestrians and drivers) everyday. Limited parking is compounded by the BRAC commuters, some of which just park 'n ride at the Odenton MARC lot. Why can't a designated area for these riders be set up in the overflow lot to alleviate those of us trying to catch the train. CMRT, the M shuttle is a viable alternative. But, (1) CMRT drivers regularly leave you at the stop (especially Food Lion stop); (2) finding a schedule on the CMRT website is a more complicated then finding buried treasure; (3) the afternoon pickups need to be more closely coordinated to the train arrivals; (4) a shelter and designated spot needs to be constructed for the times when we have to wait in the rain/snow; (5) getting transit benefits is was too complicated and resulted in at least three phone calls and still don't know if it will happen! In general, the MARC train in Odenton needs immediate attention. Parking issues/lack of contributes to the overcrowding on the trains. How can this be fixed?

Before the market crash, this was the plan. Who knows now.

http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Office_of_Planning_and_Capital_Programming/Plans_Programs_Reports/Historical_Documents/Odenton_Summary_Report.pdf