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

• Silver Spring Plaza Construction and Cyclists
• Early Opening of the Purple Line
• Metro Ridership Numbers Up
• Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs
• October Community Advisory Team Meetings
• Purple Line NOW Needs Your Financial Help - Please Consider a Donation Today

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.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

For today's newsletter, we have a series of brief updates for you along the Purple Line corridor:

Silver Spring Plaza and Cyclists
The plaza between the Silver Spring Metro station and the Silver Spring Transit Center is under construction, which has resulted in the temporary closure of adjacent bike racks. After reading about the confusion on social media and then visiting the site in person, Purple Line NOW reached out to the concessionaire about a week ago to see if we could get more way-finding signage to help bikers find the alternate locations for bike racks during construction. We are happy to report, they responded quickly and the multiple types of signs have already been created and installed. A-frame signs, small posters on the perimeter fences, and metal bike rack signs all work together to lead bikers from the old location to the new biker location. Depending on the direction you are coming from, Purple Line NOW Vice President and Silver Spring Metro commuter Greg Sanders also suggests that, "if you don't mind doubling up, consider taking your bike under the bridge by the Penguins mural and parking by the entrance on the NOAA."

As always, if we can help solve a problem, let us know and we’ll do our best to connect you with the right people. You are often among the first to know of construction pain points in your community, and when you reach out to us, we work to make sure those concerns reach the right people.

Early Opening
As we mentioned in our previous newsletter, the Purple Line will open in two stages, the first in late 2022, and the rest just a few months later, in 2023. 

As you probably know, the test track, about two miles long, will likely be the part of the segment that opens first. The track is along Veterans Highway in Prince George’s county. Maryland transit officials have promised more details by the end of year.

More information can be found in this September 19 Washington Post article. 

Metro Ridership Numbers
WMATA reported that daily passenger trips are up 2.3% in the first half of 2019 and 3.3% in the second quarter of 2019 (compared to last year during the same time period.) This is good news for all in our area, and especially for the Purple Line as we draw closer to opening day! You can read more about the numbers, nation-wide, here: A Glimmer of Hope as Ridership Rebounds.

Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs: Guidebook for Local Governments in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
This document from the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay presents "practical strategies for funding and financing municipal urban tree canopy (UTC) programs in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Its target audience is policy makers and urban forestry managers in towns and cities throughout the region, but its content may be of interest to anyone involved in promoting the development and maintenance of thriving community forests."

You can link to the Guidebook here: Chesapeake Trees

An Update in Photos
We’ve written about many of these areas of construction along the route, but wanted to bring you some photos of crews in action. Thanks to MTA for sending these our way!

Manchester Place

Silver Spring International Middle School

Silver Spring Transit Center

Ellin Road

PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS

October Community Advisory Team Meetings

• October 10
  Silver Spring
  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Silver Spring International Middle School
  313 Wayne Avenue (Media Center)
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• October 15
  University Boulevard
  6:30 – 8 p.m.
  Langley Park-McCormick Elementary School
  8201 15th Avenue
  Hyattsville, MD 20783
• October 22
  Long Branch
  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Oak View Elementary School
  400 E. Wayne Avenue
  Silver Spring, MD 20901
• October 29
  Bethesda
  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  North Chevy Chase Elementary School
  3700 Jones Bridge Road (All-Purpose Room)
  Bethesda, MD 20815

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Can You Help Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work?

If you haven't already given this year, would you consider a donation to Purple Line NOW? We have reprinted the appeal here as it contains all the bits you might want to know about what we do with your donations - those dollars work hard!

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County councilmembers, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources.

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams.

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW. If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

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:

• A Fond Farewell to Mike Madden and Welcome to Gary Witherspoon
• A Re-Cap of the Montgomery County Council Transportation & Environment Committee Briefing on the Purple Line
• Purple Line NOW Needs Your Financial Help - Please Consider a Donation Today
• The Next Set of Community Advisory Team Meetings Is Set

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 NOWwebsite which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

A Fond Farewell to Mike Madden and Welcome to Gary Witherspoon

Purple Line NOW would like to extend our deepest thanks and best wishes to Mike Madden, Purple Line Deputy Project Director for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), who will be retiring on October 1 after 48 years of public service, 36 of which has been with MTA. Mike has been an advocate for the Purple Line well before the project became a reality and championed the cause during the darkest days to see the project break ground. We are grateful for his service, his knowledge, and his diplomatic approach to keeping this train moving when the chips were down.

Mike Madden with Barbara Sanders and PLN VP Greg Sanders

Purple Line NOW Vice President Greg Sanders praised Madden's tenacity, "He represented the project at thousands of meetings with the public, in good times and bad, bore the attacks of opponents and heard the concerns of those who would face disruption. All of that is hard work and often resists easy solutions. We are grateful for his years of labor as a public servant."

We also congratulate his successor, Gary Witherspoon, Purple Line Assistant Director of Public Outreach and Communications who has been the state transportation spokesman at MDOT MTA and a valuable part of the Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings and our own Purple Line NOW forums.

Re-Cap of Montgomery County Council Transportation & Environment Committee Briefing on Purple Line

As we have done in the past, we wanted to give you some highlights from Montgomery County Council Transportation & Environment Committee briefing held last week on September 19, 2019. Chuck Lattuca, Executive Director for Transit Development and Delivery at MDOT MTA, and Peter van der Waart, CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners, delivered the report in person to the comittee. You can catch the whole briefing here: T&E Committee Briefing.

Mr. Lattuca and Mr. van der Waart began their presentation by announcing that the design work for the line is 96% complete. On the construction side, work is about 17% complete. Their presentation included a nifty little video of what the actual inside of a vehicle will look like. Twenty-two out of 130 modules have already been shop-assembled and the first complete train was shop-tested back in June in Elmira, New York. These will be the longest light rail vehicles in North America and hold about 430 passengers when full. Ultimately, there will be 26 sets of vehicles (each composed of 5 modules) for the total of 130 modules.

Photo Courtesy: MDOT MTA and PLTP

Before we get to the updates for specific communities along the route in Montgomery County, we want to give you information on two very important topics that were discussed during the briefing: the replacement of trees that were removed due to construction and the news that some parts of the Purple Line will open early along the route.

Eastern Segments of the Purple Line Will Open Early

While the concessionaire and MTA could not give specifics as to which portions of the line would open early, you may have heard the good news that they are committed to having at least some segments open for public use by the end of 2022. Mr. van der Waart cautioned that the areas for early opening would likely be along the segments that will be used to test the trains prior to opening (widely thought to refer to the Glenridge Railyard near New Carrollton), but reiterated that they would know more later in the year.

Tree Replanting

Councilmember Hucker raised the issue of the loss of trees, especially along Wayne Avenue, to accommodate increased volts and to prevent arcing. Mr. van der Waart emphasized that they are not removing any trees unless “absolutely necessary,” but to maintain the same amount of lanes, they had to widen the road which meant more tree loss. However, they are operating within the guidelines of the Maryland Forest Conservation Act and will be replacing 80 acres of tree banks. They announced that 30 overstory trees (according to Merrian-Webster, this represents the layer of foliage in a forest canopy), along with 25 flowering trees, will be replanted adjacent to Wayne Avenue. Tim Cupples from Montgomery County MDOT mentioned that he has been connecting folks to Tree Montgomery which will work with residents to replace additional trees. They are also working with the county arborist for advice on where replanting will occur, as well as tree maintenance after planting.

As mentioned, the presentation highlighted specific communities along the corridor with updates on each and a forecast for work in those areas in the coming months. Again, if you would like an in-depth report of each area, you can watch the video or see the slide show here: T&E Committee Briefing.

Bethesda Station

Back in January, the elevator shaft was about 40 feet deep, and since then, the depth has nearly doubled as you can see in the slide below. They have paused digging while they prepare to pour the concrete walls, but eventually, the shaft will descent another 60 feet before being completed by the summer in 2020. The hope is to have the permanent concrete structure installed by fall 2021. Elm Street is scheduled to reopen in early 2022.

Photo Courtesy: MDOT MTA and PLTP

Rock Creek Park

Crews are getting ready to put in tracks and rebuild the Rock Creek bridge after the trestle was removed back in June.

Silver Spring Transit Center

Crews are currently building the foundations for the aerial structure that will take the light rail over the Silver Spring Transit Center. The partial demolition of the Falkland Apartments continues, with a completion date in 2019 and the Capital Crescent Trail bridge truss erection across Colesville Road is occurring, as well.

Silver Spring International Middle School

The retaining wall and parking lot reconstruction was completed before school opened this year, although crews will need to come back to finish up some work with a completion date in the fall of 2020. The height of the retaining wall has been reduced for greater visibility. There have been significant enhancements to the crosswalks, which will be “continental” crosswalks which require a higher standard. These will be cross-hatched crosswalks, rather than the previous two-parallel stripes which will provide more visibility. These continental crosswalks will be installed along the entire corridor.

Photo Courtesy: MDOT MTA and PLTP

Manchester Place Station

Although the installation of the permanent structure has been ongoing since April of this year, the site has now been fully excavated and the plan is to have the cover on by the end of this year. The  parking lot for Kenwood House residents should reopen in spring of next year and the station is anticipated to be complete in spring 2021.

Plymouth Tunnel

You may remember, late last year, crews broke through the tunnel, but now the tunnel looks like a tunnel that could eventually have a train coming through it! The team will be busy water-proofing, laying rebar, and layers of spray-able concrete for the lining, with plans for that to be completed by late this year with the installation of the tunnel structure to begin shortly following in December and completed next summer. The hope is to have Arliss Street reopened by late next year, as well.

Photo Courtesy: MDOT MTA and PLTP

Public Outreach

Mr. van der Waart and Mr. Lattuca highlighted the work that both the concessionaire and MTA are doing in the community and the dates for the next Community Advisory Teams which you can find below. With the launch of the new website and a more active role in social media, they have seen a 37% growth in followers.

The councilmembers present, Hans Riemer, Evan Glass, and Committee Chair, Tom Hucker, asked a number of questions and those, along with their answers, can be heard in the video link above.

Upcoming Community Advisory Team Meetings

• October 1
  College Park
  6:30 – 8 p.m.
  Purple Line Project Office
  6811 Kenilworth Ave.
  (1st floor training room)
  Riverdale MD, 20737
• October 10
  Silver Spring
  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Silver Spring International Middle School
  313 Wayne Avenue (Media Center)
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• October 15
  University Boulevard
  6:30 – 8 p.m.
  Langley Park-McCormick Elementary School
  8201 15th Avenue
  Hyattsville, MD 20783
• October 22
  Long Branch
  7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Oak View Elementary School
  400 E. Wayne Avenue
  Silver Spring, MD 20901

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Can You Help Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work?

Earlier this month, we sent out a formal appeal to our entire constituency. If you haven't already given this year, would you consider a donation to Purple Line NOW? We have reprinted the appeal here as it contains all the bits you might want to know about what we do with your donations - those dollars work hard!

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County councilmembers, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources.

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams.

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW. If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

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.

We hope everyone has had a safe and productive start to the fall season!

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

• The First Tracks Are Installed!
• Our Fall Appeal is Here - Please Consider Helping Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work

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.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

The First Tracks Are Installed!

On September 5, Governor Larry Hogan and the Purple Line team celebrated the laying of the very first tracks of the 16.2-mile Purple Line light rail near the project terminus in New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. State and transit officials celebrated the milestone with Purple Line construction workers.

During the ceremony, Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Pete Rahn also raised an intriguing possibility regarding when we would be able to ride the Purple Line. The opening day of the project is presently being negotiated, as Governor Hogan explained, “unfortunately, we had some delays by the anti-transit opponents, who tied it up in court for more than a year. So we’re trying to make up for lost time.”

(Left to Right): PLTP CEO Peter van der Waart, MD Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, Governor Larry Hogan, Chuck Lattuca, Executive Director, Transit Development and Delivery at MDOT MTA, and Kevin Quinn, Administrator MDOT MTA.

The concessionaire has estimated a spring 2023 opening, but negotiations with the state are ongoing, so we do not have an official date. However, there is a possibility that even if the full opening slips to 2023, we may have a chance to ride in 2022. As Secretary Rahn announced, “[w]e are aiming to get a section of the track done and operational in 2022, and the second section up and running by 2023."

No details were reported on which section, but in the past, we've heard that access to the rail yard is critical for early operations, one more reason to pay close attention to positive developments like the track laying at Glenridge!

Here's a good article from WAMU for further reading: 'Real Progress' On Purple Line As First Tracks Go Down

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Can You Help Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work?

Last week, we sent out a formal appeal to our entire constituency. If you haven't already given this year, would you consider a donation to Purple Line NOW? We have reprinted the appeal here as it contains all the bits you might want to know about what we do with your donations - those dollars work hard!

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County councilmembers, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources.

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams.

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW. If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

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.

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County council members, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources!

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW.  If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

Gratefully,

Purple Line NOW