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"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 |  |
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Newsletter of the Coalition to Build the Inner Purple Line In this issue:
1) COALITION STORMS ANNAPOLIS The Coalition took its message of support for the Purple Line to Annapolis on a cold January 30th, where a bi-county contingent of legislative leaders joined CBIPL members calling for definitive action to move the project forward in the current legislative session. Incoming Comptroller Peter Franchot, Prince George’s Delegation’s Senate Chair Gwendolyn Britt (D-47), House Majority Leader Delegate Kumar Barve (D-17) and other members of the legislature and Coalition addressed the crowd. Statements in support of the Purple Line from both County Councils were read at the media event on lawyer’s mall. The Montgomery County Council honored the day by wearing Purple at their County Council meeting in Rockville that same day. After the media event, at a notably warmer indoor reception, the Coalition was joined by John Porcari, the new Secretary of Transportation. Mr. Porcari made it clear that the project was officially returning to its previous name which signifies unity between the two counties and multiple branches of the Metrorail system. Mr. Porcari also emphasized his belief that rail transit had a far greater positive impact in terms of community revitalization than Bus Rapid Transit. Del. Ana Sol-Guttierez (D-18) spoke in support of the project and pointed out that she had grown up with trains running near her Chevy Chase house as a child and did not agree with project opponents that the light rail, significantly quieter than those freight trains, would harm Chevy Chase neighborhoods. 2) O'MALLEY CABINET IS PURPLE In addition to a Governor and Lt. Governor who signed the Purple Line Pledge, Purple Line leadership in Annapolis is bolstered by Comptroller Peter Franchot whose support for a light rail line goes back more than a decade to his tenure as a Md. District 20 Delegate. Leadership in support of the project also includes Secretary of Transportation John Porcari who practically invented the Purple Line, and Secretary of Labor and Former Montgomery Council Councilmember (D-5) Tom Perez. Mr. Perez was instrumental in getting the CBIPL off the ground and has been extremely active in support of an alignment serving the predominantly Latino community in the Langley Park and Long Branch areas. Rounding out the team is David Edgerley, incoming Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Mr. Edgerley is a former Montgomery County Director of Economic Development and was deeply involved in the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring. 3) UM COLLEGE PARK STUDENTS GET BEHIND PURPLE LINE The board of the University of Maryland’s Student Government Association (SGA), representing 25,000 undergraduates attending The University of Maryland, issued the following statement in support of the Purple Line last month: "The Student Government Association is eager about the potential development of a direct connection between the Metrorail Red, Green and Orange Lines, known as the Purple Line. We believe that this line, if constructed, will provide more employment opportunities to students as well as a wider variety of activity centers. The line will also spur development of the College Park area for students who live on and around the campus. Additionally, we believe the University must be a leader in environmental stewardship throughout the state and steps toward increasing mass transit are critical. The Student Government Association joins with state and local officials in our support of this line that will address employment and population growth, as well as encourage economic development." The Graduate Student Government, representing close to 10,000 graduate students enrolled at the University, also endorsed the Purple Line this month by unanimously passing a strongly worded resolution in support for the Purple Line. Here is a link to their resolution: Resolution GSGA26-R6 4) FEDERAL TRANSIT FUNDING REDUCTION BAD NEWS FOR NEW PROJECTS The FY08 budget proposal falls far short of levels promised in the transit reauthorization bill. The president's budget includes $9.42 billion for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), a $430 million (4.4 percent) reduction from the $9.85 billion in FY06. The proposed funding is $309 million less than the level authorized by SAFETEA-LU. Most of the funding cut would come directly from the transit New Starts program, which would drop from $1.7 billion to $1.4 billion at a time when competition for new transit systems is at an all time high. The cut in transit funding from SAFETEA-LU targets has elicited resistance from House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders. Source: APA Feb 15, 2007 update See: American Planning Association For more information on the federal budget situation, see also: Sick Transit 5) SHORT RIDES CITIZENS ASK COUNTY COUNCILS TO BUILD MORE TRANSIT 2/5/07 – The Montgomery County Council heard an earful in support of transit at its January 25 hearing on transportation priorities, and 288 county residents subsequently wrote the council in support of giving priority to transit projects, including the Purple Line. The Council responded by voting unanimously that improved transit is the county’s top transportation priority. 1/31/07 - The Prince Georges County Council Transportation and Environment Committee held two transportation priorities hearings. One was held in College Park, where attending members of Council heard more than a dozen municipal and civic leaders call for a focus on transit and trails. Improvement to Rt. 1 was also a popular theme of many speakers. FEDS LOOK OUT 50 YEARS The House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit initiated a year-long review of transit policies last month. Subcommittee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) indicated in his opening statement that the group would be reviewing implementation of the last highway and transit reauthorization bill to more effectively prepare legislation for the next reauthorization. TEN WAYS TO PREPARE FOR A POST-OIL ECONOMY by James Howard Kunstler "We have to move things and people differently. This is the sunset of Happy Motoring… Get involved in restoring public transit." See: Ten Ways QUOTABLE QUOTES: PRESS HITS BUSH ON TRANSIT 2/9/07- From the Trenton Times on proposed funding cuts for mass transit: “What the president has to keep in mind is that mass transit has to be an important part of our energy and environmental policy. The more people use buses and trains, the fewer cars will be on the roads and fewer cars mean less oil consumption, less pollution and less wear and tear on highways.” See: Trenton Times 6) CALENDAR ITEMS The Maryland Transit Administration has scheduled focus group meetings for late February and early March. Participation is limited at these meetings but they provide an excellent opportunity to hear what is new on specific sections of the Purple Line alignment. Note: Two additional focus groups (downtown Silver Spring and New Carrollton) not yet scheduled at press time. For information contact: Mike Madden, Project Manager
7) 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 business, labor, environmental and community organizations to promote the light rail transit line connecting Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma/Langley Crossroads, 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.
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68,000 riders each weekday is huge! Counting down to completion of Purple Line DEIS; Latest news: Latest News; How you can help 
See: 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 |
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