In today's edition of Purple Line NOW News, here's what you'll find:

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Thank you!
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  
  • Community Advisory Team Meetings Begin This Month
• Construction Updates and Project Features
  • Project Delay Announcement
  • Bridge Over Purple Line Trail Installed

Share This Newsletter

Please feel free to share this newsletter - no permission from us needed! You can always find a link to our newsletter on our Purple Line NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Thank YOU!

Thank you again to all who donated during our recent matching campaign. With the matching gift from our anonymous donor, we were able to raise $5,950! Our treasurer Tina Slater is grateful the funding from this campaign will see us through the winter months and into the spring.

Because we operate year round and our budget is tiny, even though the matching campaign has ended, if you have not had a chance to make a donation or renew one from last year, we would be grateful for your consideration. You can click the PURPLE button below to easily make an online donation.

Please take a moment to see our AWESOME and GENEROUS donors, listed at this link on our website. Thank you, thank you!

 We are grateful for all the support we receive, financial and otherwise. 

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Community Advisory Team Meetings Set for February

The Community Advisory Team Meetings (CATs) begin tomorrow, February 2. You can find more information on the MDOT MTA website closer to each meeting.

February 2, University Boulevard, 6 pm

February 7, Bethesda/Chevy Chase, 6 pm

February 9, Silver Spring, 6 pm

February 16, College Park, 6 pm

February 21, Long Branch, 6 pm

February 23, Riverdale Park - Glenridge/New Carrollton, 6 pm

February 28, Greater Lyttonsville/Woodbridge, 6 pm

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Project Delay Announcement

As you may have already heard, an analysis conducted on behalf of the concessionaire was publicly reported last month and foretells yet another delay for the project, this one will extend the ribbon-cutting date about seven months into early 2027.

A recent editorial in the Washington Post cites the continued importance of getting to the finish line, “The regional imperatives behind the Purple Line, meanwhile, are as robust as ever. Del. Marc Korman, a Democrat who represents a Montgomery County district, says a majority of commuters in the county move within the suburb or among the suburbs. Which is to say, the suburbanization of transit needs to accompany the suburbanization of work in the region.” (“The Purple Line is in the news again.” Washington Post, 27 January 2023.)

From our perspective, the good news is that the state and contractor are working together through these challenges and avoiding the finger-pointing of past hurdles. The official schedule has not yet been revised and the new contract has a range of mechanisms to allow for problem-solving-oriented discussions early and often. A drive along the corridor shows long-awaited visible signs of progress after a year and a half of delay and languish.

However, timely completion is important both to achieve the benefits of the Purple Line and to minimize the period of disruption. This makes it critical that Maryland works to become a leader in implementing transit, especially in light of the poor showing that transit project construction is experiencing across the nation. The Washington Post editorial illustrates ideas for ways to do this from Eric Goldwyn, Program Director for Transportation and Land Use and an Assistant Professor at New York University’s Marron Institute. Dr. Goldwyn cites examples where projects have succeeded abroad and several possible steps to improve outcomes.

This is important for Maryland’s newly elected Governor Wes Moore's agenda, which includes completing the Purple Line along with new transit initiatives for Baltimore. The Governor and Legislature not only have an important oversight responsibility, but also have a precious chance to be proactive and use the remaining years of Purple Line construction efficiently and, if successful, can act as a foundation for better projects going forward.

Trail Bridge Over Purple Line Trail Installed

One of the most visible signs of progress occurred last month when the multi-use pedestrian bridge over Connecticut Avenue was installed. According to the Purple Line Team, the 190k-pound structure was placed at 3 a.m. while most people slept! Not to worry, John Wetmore provides this ultra cool time-lapse video on his YouTube channel.

STAY CONNECTED

Get Connected

Make sure you are signed up for timely alerts from Purple Line NOW via our Twitter and Facebook pages, and at our website Purple Line NOW.

Happy New Year!

In today's edition of Purple Line NOW News, here's what you'll find:

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Thank you!
  • The TOP TEN LIST is HERE!
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  
  • Community Advisory Team Meetings Set for February

Share This Newsletter

Please feel free to share this newsletter - no permission from us needed! You can always find a link to our newsletter on our Purple Line NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Thank YOU!

A quick update to thank everyone who took a moment to send a donation during our matching campaign which has now ended. As you know, a generous donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) offered to match all donations from non-PLN board members until we reached $5,000 or until the end of the year!

Because we operate year round and our budget is tiny, even though the matching campaign has ended, if you have not had a chance to make a donation or renew one from last year, we would be grateful for your consideration. You can click the PURPLE button below to easily make an online donation.

We will have a full report of where we are on our fundraising efforts in the next newsletter. Don't forget, unless a donor wishes to remain anonymous, all our donors are listed on our website. We are grateful for all the support we receive, financial and otherwise. 

The Top Ten List is HERE!

Each new year, our Purple Line NOW team gets together to come up with the top ten biggest Purple Line happenings of the past year. Here is our list for 2022, a year of progress after a long period of delays and frustration. Do you agree with our list?!

10) Housing at Chevy Chase Library Site -- The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously for an amendment calling for housing at the redesigned Chevy Chase Library, which happens to be very close to the new Purple Line station. According to an article in Bethesda Magazine, while the bill doesn’t guarantee housing at the site, it does “allow for the possibility of redevelopment of the Chevy Chase library, including housing on the site.” How many units might be included or under what price points the housing will fall has yet to be determined. (Bohnel, S., “County Council says it supports housing at Chevy Chase Library site.” Bethesda Magazine, 12 May 2022.)

9) Report on The Purple Line Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Strategy -- The Purple Line Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Strategy is the product of a two-year planning process funded by a transit-oriented development planning grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The report includes strategies for affordable housing, small business preservation, safe pedestrian/bicycle access to stations, and inclusive economic growth. On September 28th, 2022 the final report was released at a public event at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in downtown Silver Spring. 

8) Maryland Secretary of Transportation Greg Slater Leaves Post -- In January, we said goodbye to Greg Slater and hello to our new Secretary of Transportation, James F. Ports, Jr. We are grateful for Secretary Slater’s steady hand during a tumultuous time for the Purple Line project. His hard work and public dedication helped steer the team through the loss of the previous builder and ultimately naming the new builder. Many of you may remember his willingness to show up when asked to answer tough questions, as he did for our forum last year.

7) Sleaford Tunnel Opens -- October brought treats in the form of the opening of the Sleaford Road underpass and pathway opening to the public. This is a popular bicycle and ped route for people in the neighborhood to access nearby Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

6) New Builder Sets Tentative Opening Date -- In January of 2022, with the signing of the new builder came a newly projected opening date of Fall 2026. With construction finally resuming, the target date was welcome news.

5) Labor Organization and Concessionaire reach settlement – Early this fall, the contractor and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) reached an agreement, paving the way for crews to ramp up construction between now and the end of October. We were happy that both parties were able to negotiate a reasonable outcome so the project could move forward.

4) Approval by Board of Public Works and Reaching Financial Close with New Builder -- The final piece to officially approve the new builder -- after all the interviews, meet and greets, discovery, and research -- was gaining the approval of the Board of Public Works which happened in January 2022. In July, it was announced that financial close was reached with the new builder, the last bit in the long process of bringing on board the new entity, Maryland Transit Solutions.

3) Maryland Wins Grant for Development Near Purple Line -- Maryland was awarded a $1.5 million federal grant for development in and around the Purple Line corridor. According to the Washington Post, "The money from the Federal Transit Administration is to be used to plan for mixed-use development, the preservation of existing retail, affordable housing and access for cyclists and pedestrians along the 16-mile line that will connect Montgomery and Prince George’s counties." 

2) Approval for $1.7 billion TIFIA Loan -- In March, Maryland’s 16.2-mile Purple Line project was approved for a $1.7 billion Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan through the Build America Bureau. The project had previously been approved for a $874.6 million TIFIA loan in 2016; this loan replaces and restructures the previous loan.

1) Major construction resumes -- All the top stories that made our list were impactful to the future of the project, but none more so than when construction finally resumed earlier last fall along the corridor after a long two-year slow-down. Nothing beats seeing crews out along the future path of the light rail!

In reality, many of these happenings were interlocking, making it difficult to rank impact or importance. And, because it is a Top Ten List, we had to focus with so many stories from which to choose!

For example, we were delighted to read the support Maryland's newly elected governor, Wes Moore, has for the possibility of a future Red Line in Baltimore. Perhaps a ground-breaking for a future Red Line will make the Top Ten list one day soon! And, who could forget the Purple Line making an appearance on Google Maps?! Perhaps we'll save some of the others for an "Honorable Mentions" edition of the Purple Line NOW News.

Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the parting of some long-time Purple Line advocates. NCSG Director Dr. Gerrit Knaap announced his official retirement at a December celebration hosted by the Purple Line Corridor Coalition. Montgomery Councilmember Hans Reimer and Prince George's Councilmember Dannielle Glaros, whose advocacy helped to steer the project through some tough times during their tenure on their respective councils, will be sorely missed. We also want to remember three dedicated supporters of the project who passed away in 2022, notably Linda Anderson, Tawanna Gaines, and Neil Greene. They are missed by all of us here at Purple Line NOW.

And with that, we wrap up 2022 and look forward to a new year fill with progress and potential as we move closer to opening day. Thank you again for all you do for our community. Happy New Year!

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Community Advisory Team Meetings Set for February

The Community Advisory Team Meetings (CATs) have been rescheduled for February. You can find more information on the MDOT MTA website closer to each meeting.

February 2, University Boulevard, 6 pm

February 7, Bethesda/Chevy Chase, 6 pm

February 9, Silver Spring, 6 pm

February 16, College Park, 6 pm

February 21, Long Branch, 6 pm

February 23, Riverdale Park - Glenridge/New Carrollton, 6 pm

February 28, Greater Lyttonsville/Woodside, 6 pm

STAY CONNECTED

Get Connected

Make sure you are signed up for timely alerts from Purple Line NOW via our Twitter and Facebook pages, and at our website Purple Line NOW.

In today's edition of Purple Line NOW News, here's what you'll find:

• What's Happening at PLN?
  •  In Case You Missed It!
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Remembering Tawanna Gaines
  • Community Advisory Team Meetings Postponed
• Construction News & Project Features
  
  • Maryland Wins Grant for Development Near Purple Line
  • Call for Progress Photos!

Share This Newsletter

Please feel free to share this newsletter - no permission from us needed! You can always find a link to our newsletter on our Purple Line NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

In Case You Missed It!

Thank you to everyone who took a moment to send a donation as we kicked off our Matching Campaign last week. If you missed our last newsletter, we explained the reasons for asking, and they are pretty scary (at least to a nonprofit that runs on a slim budget!) We have reprinted our appeal below for those who may have missed it, and if you can, we hope you will consider Purple Line NOW this holiday season.

All of our donors are listed on our website -- THANK YOU!

Don't forget -- any donations from (non-PLN Board Members) individuals are automatically DOUBLED (!) between now and the end of the year or until we reach our goal of $5,000, thanks to a very generous anonymous donor who has stepped up to make giving to Purple Line truly impactful! We are excited that in the first few weeks of the campaign, we are edging up to 10% of our goal! You can click the PURPLE button below to easily make an online donation.

We hope you will take a moment to consider the following request from us here at Purple Line NOW. We have a great BIG surprise to announce, too, but first, some details!

At our quarterly Board meeting on October 28, Tina Slater, Purple Line NOW’s Board Treasurer, reported to the assembly that our checkbook is at the lowest level she has seen in her long tenure with us and emphasized the need for a robust fall fundraising campaign. 

After Tina gave us the hard news, we asked our Board members to donate before we launched our public campaign. They have been generous not only with their time, but with their financial support, and we are grateful to each of them. To make our ends meet, however, we have to cast our fundraising net wider, and you have never let us down. 

Every fall, we look to you to help us through the slim winter months and provide enough funding for us to continue our work into the spring. Because Purple Line NOW does not do any special event fundraising, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to see us through.

To help us reach our goal, we are THRILLED to announce that an anonymous donor has offered once again to match all individual donations from non-Board members!

That means, if you give $25, your donation will count as $50. If you give $250, your donation will count as $500 -- starting right now and going through the end of the year, your donation in any amount will be doubled by our anonymous donor who will match all donations from individuals until the end of the year or until our goal of $5,000 is reached!

As we head into the holiday season, we want you to know how grateful we are for your support, some of you for years, some of you new to us – all appreciated and critical to our continued mission of making the Purple Line a reality for our community.

If you are new to us and wonder exactly what we do with your donation, our November newsletter last year explains it best. Have a read and feel free to email with any questions you have.

Thank you for all you do for us and for our community. We are grateful.

**If you do not see your name on our Donors List, we hope you will consider helping us continue our work!** 

(Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed on our website and in publications for a year following your donation.)

THE PURPLE LINE IN THE NEWS

Duncan, I. "Maryland wins $1.5 million federal grant for development near Purple Line." Washington Post, 17 November 2022.

Beachum, L. and Wiggins, O. "Former Maryland Delegate Tawanna Gaines dies at 70." Washington Post, 15 September 2022.

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Remembering Tawanna Gaines

We were saddened by the news that former Delegate Tawanna Gaines passed away last week. She was a crucial Purple Line ally during her tenure and her efforts helped to ensure that the benefits of mass transit reach a wider range of communities. As a delegate, Ms. Gaines helped to organize Purple Line efforts in Annapolis and Prince George' county and remained an advocate for the project in the years since. We wish her family comfort at this difficult time.

Community Advisory Team Meetings Postponed

The Community Advisory Team Meetings (CATs) have been postponed until early 2023. We will keep on top of the news around the corridor and keep you in the loop via this newsletter while we wait for those meetings to resume.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Maryland Wins Grant for Development Near Purple Line 

Maryland was awarded a $1.5 million federal grant last week for development in and around the Purple Line corridor. According to the Washington Post, "The money from the Federal Transit Administration is to be used to plan for mixed-use development, the preservation of existing retail, affordable housing and access for cyclists and pedestrians along the 16-mile line that will connect Montgomery and Prince George’s counties." You can read more about where development is being planned at the linked article.

Call for Progress Pics!

With construction ramping up in a big way, we would LOVE to see YOUR photos of construction happening in your neighborhood. Snap a few and send them to us -- we will try to publish as many of them as we can (with your permission!) Send to [email protected]. 

Photo courtesy of Ralph Bennett

Photo Courtesy of MDOT MTA

Photo Courtesy of MDOT MTA

STAY CONNECTED

Get Connected

Make sure you are signed up for timely alerts from Purple Line NOW via our Twitter and Facebook pages, and at our website Purple Line NOW.

In today's edition of Purple Line NOW News, here's what you'll find:

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • An Important Announcement from Purple Line NOW
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Community Advisory Team Meetings Postponed
• Construction News & Project Features
  
  • Call for Progress Photos!

Share This Newsletter

Please feel free to share this newsletter - no permission from us needed! You can always find a link to our newsletter on our Purple Line NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Our newsletter today is primarily focused on our fall fundraising campaign.

We hope you will take a moment to consider the following request from us here at Purple Line NOW. We have a great BIG surprise to announce, too, but first, some details!

At our quarterly Board meeting on October 28, Tina Slater, Purple Line NOW’s Board Treasurer, reported to the assembly that our checkbook is at the lowest level she has seen in her long tenure with us and emphasized the need for a robust fall fundraising campaign. 

After Tina gave us the hard news, we asked our Board members to donate before we launched our public campaign. They have been generous not only with their time, but with their financial support, and we are grateful to each of them. To make our ends meet, however, we have to cast our fundraising net wider, and you have never let us down. 

Every fall, we look to you to help us through the slim winter months and provide enough funding for us to continue our work into the spring. Because Purple Line NOW does not do any special event fundraising, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to see us through.

To help us reach our goal, we are THRILLED to announce that an anonymous donor has offered once again to match all individual donations from non-Board members!

That means, if you give $25, your donation will count as $50. If you give $250, your donation will count as $500 -- starting right now and going through the end of the year, your donation will be doubled by our anonymous donor who will match all donations from individuals until the end of the year or until our goal of $5,000 is reached!

As we head into the holiday season, we want you to know how grateful we are for your support, some of you for years, some of you new to us – all appreciated and critical to our continued mission of making the Purple Line a reality for our community.

If you are new to us and wonder exactly what we do with your donation, our November newsletter last year explains it best. Have a read and feel free to email with any questions you have.

Thank you for all you do for us and for our community. We are grateful.

**If you do not see your name on our Donors List, we hope you will consider helping us continue our work!** 

(Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed on our website and in publications for a year following your donation.)

THE PURPLE LINE IN THE NEWS

Iannelli, N. "Study on Maryland’s Purple Line looks to limit gentrification." WTOP, 29 September 2022.

Shaver, K. "As Purple Line construction resumes, the fight against gentrification is on." Washington Post, 30 September 2022.

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Community Advisory Team Meetings Postponed

The Community Advisory Team Meetings (CATs) have been postponed until early 2023. We will keep on top of the news around the corridor and keep you in the loop via this newsletter while we wait for those meetings to resume.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Call for Progress Pics!

A reader wrote us last week asking for more pictures of progress from around corridor and we are happy to oblige! With construction ramping up in a big way, we would LOVE to see YOUR photos of construction happening in your neighborhood. Snap a few and send them to us -- we will try to publish as many of them as we can (with your permission!) Send to [email protected]. Thanks in advance.

In the meantime, here are some photos of work being done this week, courtesy of MDOT MTA:

STAY CONNECTED

Get Connected

Make sure you are signed up for timely alerts from Purple Line NOW via our Twitter and Facebook pages, and at our website Purple Line NOW.