 |
 |
 |
 |
"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 |  |
 |
 |
 |
  
|
|
|
         |
|
|
|
Newsletter of the Coalition to Build the Inner Purple Line November, 2006 In this issue:
1) ELECTION BRINGS WIND TO THE SAILS OF THE PURPLE LINE NEW GOVERNOR PROMISES FRESH ENERGY FOR PURPLE LINE Nov. 8, 2006: After a bruising campaign against a popular incumbent, Mayor Martin O’Malley will be heading to Annapolis in January. The Governor-Elect signed our Purple Line Pledge and has demonstrated his support in both campaign literature and post election public statements. He has expressed skepticism about bus rapid transit, as well as caution about over-committing state transportation funds. Our Coalition will work to establish a constructive relationship with the new administration as quickly as possible. SENATOR-ELECT CARDIN TO PICK UP WHERE SARBANES LEFT OFF WITH TRANSIT ADVOCACY AT FEDERAL LEVEL: Maryland chose Benjamin Cardin to be its next Senator last week--his victory ensured by tremendous margins from Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Mr. Cardin received a late-campaign geography lesson on the Purple Line from his formidable opponent, Lt. Governor Michael Steele. Senator-elect Cardin will move across Capitol Hill in January. Purple Line supporters have made efforts to clarify details of the project to our new Senator who went on record in support of the project during the campaign. We look forward to working with him and the rest of our delegation to expand federal transit funding and gain additional funding support for the Purple Line in the new Congress. FRANCHOT AS COMPTROLLER, LONG TIME PURPLE LINE ADVOCATE: Delegate Peter Franchot, is moving up from his seat in District 20 to a new role in Annapolis in the important position of Comptroller. Mr. Franchot has had a long history of support for the Purple Line and encouraged the formation of our Coalition. His new role is invaluable in ensuring that design and construction contracts move through the State procurement system in a manner that protects the public interest and expedites the project. TWO COUNTY EXECUTIVES, TWO MORE PURPLE LINE PLEDGE SIGNERS: There is no ambiguity from the top executives of the two counties that engineered a huge win for Maryland Democrats. Both Isiah (Ike) Leggett (D-Montgomery) and Jack Johnson (D-Prince George's) signed our Purple Line Pledge, as did several other candidates for their respective offices. We look to both for creative ideas for moving this project forward in the next four years. STRONGER MAJORITIES IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT IN BOTH DELEGATIONS AND COUNTY COUNCILS: The number of local, county and state elected officials on record in support of the Purple Line is now over 100, and continues to grow. Our Coalition will move quickly to clarify the positions of victorious candidates who did not sign our pledge or otherwise go on record in support of the project. We look forward to working with the energetic new faces and will be organizing strategy briefings over the course of the next few months. PURPLE LINE SUPPORTER ROGER BERLINER UPSETS INCUMBENT DENIS IN BETHESDA/CHEVY CHASE COUNCIL DISTRICT 1- MAKES FOR SWEEP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY In the best indicator of how localized Purple Line opposition is along its western end, popular incumbent Howie Denis was repudiated by newcomer Roger Berliner, a Potomac attorney. Mr. Berliner signed the Purple Line pledge and was up front in his support of the project in this as well as a previous campaign for the seat. Mr. Berliner will join the four at large and other four district electees, all of whom signed our Purple Line Pledge. 2) BECOME A FRIEND OF THE PURPLE LINE This election creates a real opportunity to move the Purple Line project forward. To succeed, we need your help. Our coffers are empty and there is much to be done. For this reason, we are launching a major fundraising drive to step up the advocacy that is essential to building the Purple Line. For information on how you can help, click here: Friends of the Purple Line To make a donation by credit card, click here 3) CORRIDOR CITIES TRANSITWAY SPAWNS NEW COALITION Oct. 23, 2006: Reflecting similar impatience to that of Purple Line supporters, a new Coalition has formed to help push forward the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT). The CCT will serve northern Montgomery County commuters – extending northward from the Shady Grove metrorail station. As with the study of the Purple Line, the planning for the CCT has been slow under the Ehrlich administration. Many Purple Line supporters recognize the importance of the CCT, although there is a similar skepticism toward bus rapid transit that exists with respect to the Purple Line. Another area of dispute has been the CCT route, which follows a winding route through employment centers west of Shady Grove where current zoning is predicated on high transit usage. The CCT is not intended to serve trips from Germantown and Clarksburg to Shady Grove and is unlikely to attract such ridership; a trip from Route 118 in Germantown to Shady Grove that now takes less than 15 minutes by express bus will take 29 minutes on the CCT. "We need accessible rapid rail, not a slow bus to nowhere," commented Greg Fioravanti, treasurer of the Clarksburg Civic Association. One important point to note in considering how our region can move forward with both the Corridor Cities Transitway and the Purple Line – the cost of putting the Purple Line underground for the 4 miles of the Georgetown Branch is more than the projected cost of the first segment of the Corridor Cities Transitway (see next article). This is one reason we have argued for a Purple Line that is predominately at-grade. 4) QUESTION FOR A NEW GOVERNOR: WILL MARYLAND TAXPAYERS PAY $600 MILLION TO GOLD PLATE A CHEVY CHASE HIKER BIKER TRAIL? In 2003, MTA estimated that the cost to complete the Georgetown Branch hiker-biker trail into Silver Spring would be about $25 million if it were constructed independently from the light rail transit project. This assessment was completed when the so-called Red Line Loop was being evaluated and assumes that an agreement with CSX would permit the trail project to move forward. This is an enormous sum for a bike trail, reflecting numerous grade separations, but it dwarfs the cost of completing a deep tunnel of the transitway in order to use the entire surface area for a bike trail. Tunnelling costs between $150 and $250 million a mile. We urge Governor-elect O'Malley not to waste time evaluating this unaffordable alternative for the Purple Line. There is room for transit and an inviting trail on the surface of the Georgetown Branch; there is no room in governmental budgets for a $600 million tunnel in this project segment. 5) SHORT RIDES RAIL ADVOCACY GROUP POINTS TO GLOBAL WARMING Nov. 3, 2006: The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) issued a paper on November 3 entitled Rail Needed to Help on Global Warming, echoing one of the Coalition’s key messages. The paper calls for a major increase in comprehensive programs to combat global warming – essentially a marshal plan for the environment. The Financial Times (October 31, 2006) publicized a recent World Bank Report suggesting that an investment of 1% of the world economic output to combat global warming could forestall a potential shrinkage in the world economy by 20% over the next two centuries. For the Full Report: Nat. Assn. Railroad Passengers MARYLAND LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS' ANNUAL REPORT CARD: The League, a non partisan organization, issued its annual report card which gives the administration marks for various environmental indicators and projects. On transportation, they gave the Governor a “D“ stating in part with respect to the Purple Line: While the Administration says they support this line, all efforts have been toward unworkable plans such as changing project from rail to bus. These are issues we hope the new Governor will address as he develops a more effective plan to move the Purple Line forward. For full report League of Conservation Voters BLOGGERS HIGHLIGHT GRASS TRACKS One huge advantage of light rail transit in suburban areas is the fact that the rails can be impeded in grassy, water-absorbing rail beds. Grass tracks are increasingly used to reduce runoff and track noise, and to increase the amount of green space as part of the transit project. This is important throughout the Purple Line alignment since concern about excessive pavement is widespread. For blog entry see: Rethink College Park 6) NEWS FROM THE COALITION COALITION INITIATES OUTREACH TO BALTIMORE: In the wake of the 2006 election, the Coalition is reaching out to Baltimore area elected officials that support transit. Any progress on the Purple Line must be part of an overall plan for a package of transit facilities supported particularly by the delegations of Montgomery, Prince Georges and Baltimore Counties, and the City of Baltimore. Transportation needs of other jurisdictions are also critical to ensuring a smart growth future for the State of Maryland. COALITION EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO ALL SUPPORTIVE CANDIDATES; NOW THE HARD WORK BEGINS: The Coalition is stepping up its efforts to develop a legislative program for moving the Purple Line forward in a tough funding environment. Unfortunately, Purple Line opponents are gearing up to do the reverse. Your support will make the difference! To add your name or organization to our growing list of supporters join the Friends of the Purple Line. 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.
with "remove" in the subject line. |
|
|
|
|
 
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 |
|
  
|