The Frederick County Council wants to make Frederick less car dependent by improving the infrastructure for pedestrians around the Monocacy MARC station.

The County’s seven member Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution to give the Monocacy MARC station a State Transit-Oriented Development designation on Tuesday.

The Monocacy station connects to the Penn Line, which runs from Frederick to D.C.

A State T-O-D designation involves making an area more accessible for pedestrians who walk, bike, and use public transit.

The county plans to build a system of paths for pedestrians, spanning over a half mile around the station. Frederick County Council Member Jerry Donald says improving accessibility to the Monocacy station is key for community growth.

“When you build your community and it is anywhere near a railroad station, you can change everything,” Donald said.

The County will have to retrofit an area of Frederick that is already developed, which Donald says may prove challenging.

“Well, the fact is you have things that are already there that need to be moved somewhere else,” Donald said. “You may have to change the way streets are, or you may have to remove buildings where condos are going to be.”

If it becomes easier to take the train, Frederick residents may begin to see less traffic.

“I was driving today and there was traffic for miles, all of those things can be alleviated if more people take the train,” Donald said.

MARC stations in Brunswick and Frederick City are seeking to make similar changes. No construction dates for the Monocacy MARC station have been announced at this time.