"Our over-reliance on cars and $4-per-gallon gasoline has led us to dig a really deep hole for ourselves. The Purple Line is the ladder that helps us climb up out of this hole toward the light of rational land use, friendly commutes and a stable climate." Mike Tidwell, director of CCAN


BUILD IT!
Newsletter of Purple Line NOW!
December 10, 2007

In this issue:
  1. MTA RELEASES RIDERSHIP AND TRAVEL TIME NUMBERS: RAIL PROJECT IS COMPETITIVE AND WILL ATTRACT SUBSTANTIAL RIDERS
  2. PLN MEETS WITH MDOT SECRETARY TO DISCUSS PL FUNDING
  3. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EFFECTIVELY LOBBIES FOR TRANSIT
  4. UPCOMING EVENTS
  5. SHORT RIDES
  6. THIS NEWSLETTER
1) RIDERSHIP AND TRAVEL TIME NUMBERS RELEASED: MTA SHOWS RAIL PROJECT IS COMPETITIVE AND WILL GENERATE HIGH RIDERSHIP

The Purple Line took a great leap forward last week with the release of updated ridership forecasts by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). MTA’S forecast of 42,000 to 47,000 average daily riders (for medium and high level investment options) surpasses ridership numbers for many existing and proposed light rail (LRT) projects across the country. The average daily ridership for competing light rail proposals moving through the Federal approval process is 31,400. Ridership projections may also increase, as the initial figures do not include most weekday University of Maryland student trips, nor travel to the campus for athletic and cultural events. MTA is working to add these trips to projections prior to release of the Environmental Impact Study.

For the Purple Line to receive federal funding (the State could not fund the Purple Line by itself), the project must be given a positive rating by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). A positive rating from FTA depends on a complex formula that considers ridership and travel time saving projections, as well as projected cost, funding sources and other factors. PLN believes the projected overall cost/benefit calculation (at least for the medium LRT option) is likely to satisfy the cost effectiveness standard of FTA.

Although both light rail (LRT) and bus are still being considered for the Purple Line, the travel times of LRT are significantly lower which is of considerable importance to riders and the FTA. For example, the projected travel time for LRT between Bethesda and Silver Spring is a speedy 9 minutes. By comparison, the bus rapid transit option is estimated to take between 16 and 22 minutes. This and other significant differences between the two modes should encourage selection of the LRT option.

2) PLN AND MDOT SECRETARY MEET TO DISCUSS PROJECT FUNDING

On a snowy December 5th, representatives of Purple Line Now! traveled to the Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) headquarters near BWI to meet with MDOT Secretary, John Porcari.

Secretary Porcari was optimistic that next year’s state transportation budget would include additional funding for the Purple Line, as well as the Corridor Cities Transitway. He asked for assistance from PLN in keeping Purple Line capital costs down and supporting measures to keep transit travel speeds up.

The Secretary suggested that Montgomery County take the lead in finding additional sources of funds for the Capital Crescent Trail and the Bethesda South Metrorail entrance. This would reduce the costs needed from the Federal New Starts program for enhancements associated with the Purple Line. The mission statement of Purple Line Now! includes the goal of completing the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring, and the organization will work with trail advocates to enhance interim trail improvements and to develop a symbiotic plan for the two interrelated projects.

Other issues needing attention include the federal effort to reauthorize the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" (SAFETEA-LU) legislation and increase its funding of transit. It is also important to begin discussing an earmarking strategy. Reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU will begin summer of 2008.

3) HOW A UNIVERSITY LOBBIES EFFECTIVELY FOR TRANSIT: THE CASE OF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The University of Minnesota (UMN) sets a good example by wholeheartedly supporting its local light rail, Minnesota’s Central Corridor Project (www.lightrail.umn.edu). UMN’s support highlights how University of Maryland’s efforts with regard to the Purple Line have gone astray.

Minnesota’s Central Corridor Project will extend 11 miles between the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The estimated cost is $930 million, with ridership projected to be 38,100 by 2020 and 43,270 by 2030. Sixteen stations are planned and the line will connect with the very successful Hiawatha light rail line, completed in 2004. Ridership on the Hiawatha line increased 20% from 2005 to 2006, and today’s ridership rates exceed the preconstruction estimates for the year 2020.

Like UMD, UMN is a regional destination, attracting 80,000 visitors a day. Unlike UMD, the Minnesota University recognizes that the benefits of light rail far outweigh the negatives. The campus will be served with three stops and is one of six partners on the project, which is a competitor to the Purple Line for federal funds.

UMN created a dedicated website to rally the university community in support of the project. UMN recognizes that transit plays an important role in efforts to broaden its sustainability initiative:

”The University of Minnesota is strongly committed to transportation alternatives. A highly effective transit system is essential to the Twin Cities campus.” The University has invested heavily to enhance service and accessibility. In fact, the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities was selected as one of the "Best Workplaces for Commuters" by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

  • 68 percent of students, staff, and faculty use transportation alternatives to get to campus each day.
  • 20,300 University students and 2,000 faculty and staff use discounted bus passes
  • The free inter-campus bus service generates 3.8 million trips annually.
  • UMN is the largest user of E85 (ethanol) in the United States.

This does not suggest there is not concern about the details of design and implementation. UMN continues to urge inclusion of a tunnel along one section to "ensure the smooth operation of the line, the safety of riders and non-riders alike, the functionality of campus, and the promotion of a vibrant urban environment in this area." It does this however, in a spirit of cooperation. Nowhere on the project website does it suggest that failure to include a tunnel will result in their withholding support for the light rail line.

4) UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Dec. 10 – (5-8) MTA Open House Langley Park Community Ctr. 1500 Merrimac Dr. Hyattsville MD 20783
  • Dec. 12 – (5-8) MTA Open House – Bethesda-Chevy Chase H.S. Cafeteria, 4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814
  • Dec. 13 – (5-8) MTA Open House - West Lanham Hills Recreation Center, 7700 Decatur Rd. Landover Hills, MD 20784
  • Dec. 19 – (5-8 pm) MTA Open House – College Park City Hall, 4500 Knox Rd. College Park, MD 20740 (rescheduled from Dec. 5 due to snow)

    5) SHORT RIDES
    • NORFOLK LIGHT RAIL MOVES INTO CONSTRUCTION
      The nation’s next rail line will be a beach trip away – extending 7.4 miles from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center through Norfolk, Virginia. Construction of the line, called the “Tide”, is expected to cost $230 million, with 56% of the capital cost to be paid with federal funds. Ridership is estimated to be 11,500 per day for the starter segment. Norfolk examined and rejected bus rapid transit for the route, despite a favorable rating by FTA in 2006. The line will be operated by Hampton Roads Transit and will be open in late 2009. It is likely to be the start of a more extensive rail system for the tidewater region.

    • CHARLOTTE CROWDS GREET NEW LIGHT RAIL LINE
      Charlotte’s new LYNX light rail opened on November 24th. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) reported that the system served 34,000 trips in the first four hours of operation, and served more than 60,000 over the course of the day (when service was free). Ridership reports for Nov 27th and 28th were 6,692 and 8,029. Projections for the first year of operation of the 9.6-mile long rail are 9,100 trips per weekday.

    • SEATTLE STREET CAR LINE OPENS
      Seattle’s South Lake Union Line is opening next week. The line is expected to be the first of many street car lines to complement Seattle’s light rail system. The line is short –1.3 miles– and is estimated to cost $52.1 million ($40 million/mile). Ridership is projected to be 350,000 passengers per year, growing to over 1 million per year in the future.

      To read more visit the Seattle streetcar website:
      www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/stcar_slu.htm

    6) THIS NEWSLETTER
    This newsletter is produced by volunteer supporters of the Coalition to Build the Inner Purple Line (CBIPL) which was formed in January, 2003 by representatives of business, labor, environmental and community organizations to promote a light rail transit line connecting Bethesda, Silver Spring, Long Branch, Takoma/ Langley Crossroads, College Park and the University of Maryland, Riverdale Park and New Carrollton. The Coalition supports completion of the hiker-biker trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring, as well as pedestrian enhancements as part of the transit project elsewhere along the alignment.



    • 68,000 riders each weekday is huge! Counting down to completion of Purple Line DEIS; Latest news: Latest News; How you can help



    See: Calendar of Events.

    We need you to help keep the Purple Line a state and county priority. Write a letter, make a call or send an e-mail in support of the Purple Line today. See: Contact List