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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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Monthly Newsletter of PURPLE LINE NOW formerly the Coalition to Build the Inner Purple Line July 2007 IN THIS ISSUE:
1) NEWS FROM THE ORGANIZATION Board votes for name change The Purple Line advocacy group, the Coalition to build the Inner Purple Line , was formed when the focus of the debate was whether to build an "outer" or "inner" purple line. With that debate won, the Coalition board voted at its June meeting to approve a name change to PURPLE LINE NOW. The group's new name is effective immediately. Sanders Assumes Presidency A key change to the CBIPL board decided in May was the appointment of Harry Sanders from Treasurer to President. Sanders is a 20-year veteran of the effort to improve transit in the bi-county region. Webb Smedley remains Chair while trail activist Wayne Phyillaier has assumed the role of Treasurer. The Vice Presidency is vacant as a result of Andrew Scott's move back to MDOT. Michele Cornwell rounds out the Executive Committee as Secretary. Save the Date!! Help efforts to get the Purple Line NOW - mark your calendars for our firt major fundraising event to be held early evening on October 10th. Stay tuned for more information. 2) MINNESOTA LIGHT RAIL IS SETBACK AT STATE LEGISLATURE Advocates for the Central Corridor LRT Line which will connect Minneapolis and St. Paul, were disappointed that $40 million in bonding was not approved by the State legislature. The project, similar to the Purple Line in scope, was described in detail in this newsletter in December 2006. 3) RAIL LINE CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM SALT LAKE CITY Local developers are taking advantage of increased buyer interest in living and working near the region’s light rail system. “People can go where they want and won’t have to get in a car,” said Keith Snarr, the director of Murray City’s economic development office who helped negotiate the agreement with Hamlet Homes. “It may not be the lifestyle for everybody, but there are a lot of people around here now that understand what it means to be urban and find this attractive.” One of them is David Bailey, 28, who works for a jewelry dealer. He bought a two-bedroom home for $205,000. He said access to the TRAX light rail line, which he rides to basketball and football games downtown, played a part in his decision to buy. “I really feel as gas prices go up, homes near public transportation will increase in value,” he said. Source: New York Times 4/22/07 Business Section http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/business/yourmoney/22natreal.html?ex=1334894400&en=b04dd888cd8c36fa&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss 4) WALL STREET JOURNAL ACKNOWLEDGES NATIONWIDE INTEREST IN RAIL The Wall Street Journal pointed to the growing body of evidence that light rail lines have demonstrated a solid track record of supporting economic development. The article reports that about a dozen cities from Madison, Wisconsin to Miami, Florida are planning light rail lines, and unlike big-ticket projects such as ballparks, the rail lines more consistently result in economic spinoff development. Officials in Portland, Oregon say their streetcar system has helped bring “$2.7 billion in investment within two blocks of its 3.6 mile line, much of it in the 24-hour hub known as the Pearl District." Slower moving streetcars, which average less than ten miles per hour “face considerable odds because they vie for the same money as transportation projects designed to serve the suburbs. This has been particularly true at the federal level, where funding has long depended on how quickly projects can move people from one point to another.” Light rail is in a better position as by contrast, it “moves at 20 to 60 miles per hour." Source: http://www.planetizen.com/node/25222 5) SHORT RIDES CBIPL Asks MNCPPC For Care in Park Design The Montgomery County Planning Board convened on June 5th to review and give preliminary approval for the design of the Silver Spring Transit center. A federal code (under Section 4-F*) that requires that replacement land for an urban park be identified in the transit center project was a key point of discussion. CBIPL President Harry Sanders testified before the Board asking that part of the existing right-of-way not be used for the replacement park as it is likely to cause a legal problem for the Purple Line down the road. Planning staff agreed to work out details to avoid a legal problem for the Purple Line project. * http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/pd5sec4f.asp 6) BECOME A FRIEND OF THE PURPLE LINE In June, the Town of Chevy Chase voted to commit $250,000 in tax revenues to oppose the Purple Line! While we do not expect to match such a commitment, we need your help to argue for the Purple Line to improve transportation and reduce congestion in our region. The funds raised will be used for the advocacy work required to move the Purple Line project forward. Please help by becoming a friend of the Purple Line and making whatever donation will fit your budget. 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, 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.
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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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