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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 January 22, 2007 In this issue:
1) JOIN CBIPL ON A ROAD TRIP TO ANNAPOLIS JANUARY 30TH Purple Line supporters are urged to come to Annapolis as we make our case for this important project on Tuesday, January 30th 2007. Join us at 10:30 am in Lawyers Square (Freedom Plaza) for a press event, followed by a Noon reception at the Maryland Inn. Spend some time with your Annapolis representatives to promote our legislative agenda. The Purple Line got a huge boost in the November election with support for the project coming from almost 150 candidates including the elected Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, both County Executives, all members of both County Councils and a strong majority of the delegations from Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Now, we need you in the state capital to make it clear that Maryland should be in the forefront of smart growth by focusing on community revitalization based on transit-oriented development and starting with the Purple Line. Our gathering of elected officials, community leaders and constituents will advocate for the Purple Line to strengthen the political momentum for action on this project. We have invited our new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Comptroller as well as our U.S. Senators and Congresspersons to join us. The Purple Line is unique because it commands support across the political spectrum, including environmental, business, labor, minority, and community organizations along with elected officials from townships, cities, counties, and the State House. Media and polling data identify the Purple Line as one of the top transportation issues facing Maryland. The Purple Line is about many things. It is about providing mobility choices for families who may not have multiple cars in their driveways. It is about economic development that does not destroy our environment. It will connect and strengthen major employment, education and cultural centers in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. It will strengthen our state's flagship University. The Purple Line will be a keystone project in our state's commitment to address global warming and the negative impacts of urban sprawl. Join us on January 30th. For information contact Linda at 301-656-3099. 2) CBIPL CELEBRATES 4 YEARS OF SLOW BUT STEADY PROGRESS Like the hearty Terrapin, we cannot brag about speedy implementation of the Purple Line. But we are still making forward progress and, with your help, the pace will be quicker during the next four years. Since the January 2003 formation of the Coalition, we have successfully:
We must now translate this progress and unity into action to move the project forward (as is clear from the story below on the Twin Cities). Please continue to support our efforts to promote an environmentally sustainable development vision for our inner suburban communities. 3) PARIS OPENS FIRST LIGHT RAIL LINE IN 70 YEARS The City of Paris is once again demonstrating its leadership. With an opening ceremony attended by a host of world leaders, the first stretch of the new T-3 Tram Line, a circumferential light rail line like the Purple Line was inaugurated last month. The starter segment, which cost $411 million, runs 7.9 km (4.89 mi.) between the Pont du Garigliano and Port d’Ivry passing through three arrondissements (13th, 14th and 15th) and seven inner-suburban boroughs. The new segment serves a University and includes 16 other stops. While Paris has the most extensive public transit system in the world, regional growth has revealed the system’s weaknesses. The network functions well for bringing people into and around the center of Paris, but works less effectively in moving people from suburb to suburb. On the outskirts of Paris, more than 40% of all trips are made by car, compared to the 2/3 of all trips within Paris that are made by pubic transit. Along the T-3 corridor, existing bus service is slow and the buses are overcrowded. A new underground Metrorail line was deemed too expensive. The light rail line is designed to carry up to 100,000 people each day – double the capacity of the buses that previously served the route. Trains will operate every 4 minutes during rush hour and every 8 minutes during off-peak times. The project included major improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle environment with wider sidewalks, bike lanes, safer roadway crossings, and improved landscaping all designed to encourage people to get out of their cars. A key focus in planning was the reduction of noise levels along the busy corridor. Improved lighting was another significant focus of the project. Special lighting was designed for the route with more than 4,000 new lights installed in coordination with the landscaping and integrated with the light rail’s overhead power distribution (catenary) system. While lighting was dramatically improved, the overall power consumption was reduced due to the use of higher efficiency metallic iodide lamps. The City of Paris developed a clear strategy for protecting the businesses located along the 7 boulevards impacted by this project. Business expansion continued during construction with the number of businesses growing 12.7% (from 580 to 655) between 2003 and 2006. The City and the railroad authority established a dispute resolution committee and developed compensation packages for 37 businesses that suffered negative impacts from construction. The vacancy rate for commercial space along the corridor was reported to be 7.6% which is lower than the rate in Paris as a whole. This new line is an initiative of the strongly pro-environmental administration of Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. It is also part of a nationwide trend towards investment in light rail transit, with new lines scheduled to provide service in Valenciennes, Mulhouse and Saint-Etienne next year. 4) TWIN CITIES LIGHT RAIL, similar to Purple Line, MOVES FORWARD January 2006 – The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) granted approval for the Twin Cities to move forward with preliminary engineering of the Central Corridor Light Rail project. Like the Purple Line, this proposed 11-mile line connects the two downtowns and a major State University. Preliminary ridership estimates are 38,100 weekday riders in 2020 and 43,300 in 2030 at a cost of $930 million. These ridership numbers are lower than those previously released by MTA for the Purple Line, but updated ridership estimates for both projects will be developed as design proceeds. The Twin Cities line is anticipated to have 16 new stations in addition to five shared with the existing Hiawatha line that runs through downtown Minneapolis. End to end travel time for the 11-mile route is projected to be 35 minutes. While FTA approved continued planning for this project, the project planners were told that some features of the proposal might need to be scaled back – most notably the extent of tunneling. The local jurisdictions will need to look closely at this if the project is to be eligible for construction funds. If concerns about cost are addressed, construction of the project could begin in 2010. Discussions are under way in the region and State of Minnesota about how to generate additional revenue to support transit expansion. Hennepin County already has a special property tax to support operation of the Hiawatha Line. The County recently proposed a new metro-wide sales tax to help pay for this line and future projects. There is one important difference between the Twin Cities project and the Purple Line. Minnesota has a clear planning AND political strategy. They have not experienced the ambiguity seen in Maryland that has prevented our state from getting a healthy share of federal rail money in recent years. In September of 2006, a 13 member Central Corridor Management Committee (CCMC) was named, with representation including the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Several County Commissioners, a University of Minnesota Vice President and other high level elected or appointed officials. This committee then created a Community Advisory Committee. The CAC will meet on a monthly basis, dialoguing with local communities and reporting back to the CCMC. This structure replicates that which successfully moved the Hiawatha Line through planning. That line, which connects downtown Minneapolis, the Mall of America and the region’s international airport, has exceeded ridership projections, encouraging the region to move forward with both the Central Corridor project and a 40 mile Northstar Commuter Rail Line. The Commuter rail project is projected to move into construction this spring with service beginning in 2009 5) SHORT RIDES NEW JERSEY MAKES MODEST GAINS TOWARD TRANSIT New Jersey, a small urban state like Maryland, has managed to reverse one sprawl growth indicator -- the number of miles driven for each dollar of economic output produced fell 5% from 1997 to 2004. According to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a transit advocacy group, NY is second only to New York in transit ridership, with 10% of its residents using transit to get to work. New Jersey has two light rail lines in addition to numerous commuter rail and metrorail connections in both Philadelphia and New York. The Hudson-Bergen line has contributed to the renaissance of Jersey City, while the River Line moves people in the central-west part of the State between Trenton and Camden. RAILS AND TRAIL COEXIST IN SEATTLE Trains and bicyclists are coexisting along Seattle’s Elliot Bay Trail as reported in August 2, 2006 Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003169008_railtrail02e.html The article observes that: trains and people increasingly are sharing space on pathways around the region and across the country, separated by fences, shrubs and sometimes nothing at all. The proximity has not posed a significant safety hazard so far, according to a federal study.” A view affirmed by Pete Lagerway, bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator for the Seattle Department of Transportation. 6) PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY TRANSPORTATION HEARING On Wednesday, January 31st, and Thursday, February 1st, the Transportation, Housing and Environment Committee of the Prince George's County Council will hold hearings in two different locations to hear public comment on the County's transportation needs. The January 31st hearing will be held at College Park City Hall at 7pm (4500 Knox Road), and the February 1st hearing will be held at the Morningside Town Hall at 7pm. Public input is being sought about County transportation priorities. If you have questions, or if you would like to register to speak, please contact Mr. Todd M. Turner, Legislative Officer, at 301-952-4116 or tmturner@co.pg.md.us 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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