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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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S 08-02-24 C 1. WHEREAS, the Student Government Association (SGA) represents all undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park; and 2. WHEREAS, the SGA makes recommendations on behalf of the student body on issues pertaining and affecting the University community; and, 3. WHEREAS, the SGA has previously strongly supported the Purple Line and urged the Maryland Department of Transportation to proceed expeditiously to the design and construction of this project; and, 4. WHEREAS, the SGA has previously supported a generally at-grade light rail line that is primarily on its own right of way, is an excellent service linking various places in Montgomery and Prince George’s County and is designed in a community-and-environmentally friendly manner that mitigates negative impacts in a speedy yet cost-effective manner; and, 5. WHEREAS, the Maryland Transportation Authority has preferred the ‘Campus Drive alignment’ for the Purple Line as it crosses through the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park; and, 6. WHEREAS, the University Administration being unsatisfied with this alignment, which would follow Campus Drive from Route One to University Boulevard, has proposed two alternatives namely the ‘Stadium Drive alignment’ and the ‘Preinkert Drive alignment’; and, 7. WHEREAS, the University Administration withdrew the ‘Stadium Drive alignment’ from active consideration at the end of 2007 and now favors the ‘Preinkert Drive alignment’ that would run on Preinkert Drive, between the South Campus Dining Hall and LeFrak Hall, continue past the Skinner Building and between Marie Mount Hall and the Chapel and finally pass north of the Rossborough Inn; and, 8. WHEREAS, the ‘Campus Drive alignment’ has many positive attributes that are not features of any other alignment; and, 9. WHEREAS, Campus Drive is currently and will remain for the foreseeable future the center of campus close to all major centers on campus: academic, social, residential, performance, and athletic; and, 10. WHEREAS, a station at the Stamp Student Union would be convenient for all guests and members of the University Community as all major buildings on campus will be within a ten minute walk; and, 11. WHEREAS, the Master Plan of the University of Maryland calls for the closure of Campus Drive to all private automobiles and the construction of the Purple Line would only facilitate increased use of public transit vis-à-vis private automobiles and small carpools; and, 12. WHEREAS, the ‘Campus Drive alignment’ is the most direct route through the University of Maryland, utilizes a current thoroughfare and minimizes both turns and grades; and, 13. WHEREAS, it cannot be ignored that selection of the ‘Campus Drive alignment’ would bring a number of secondary benefits such as millions of dollars worth of street, sidewalk and landscaping improvements to the heart of campus; and, 14. WHEREAS, the stations planned under the ‘Preinkert Drive alignment’ would not service many residence halls and building on North Campus including the Comcast Center; and, 15. WHEREAS, the ‘Preinkert Drive alignment’ would create a new busy thoroughfare and transit point on South Campus that is very close to residence halls, public-private partnership housing and one of two primary dining facilities; and, 16. WHEREAS, many cities both within the United States and around the world successfully accommodate light rail in heavily populated places and the concern for safety has never been a stumbling block; and, 17. WHEREAS, the SGA is very concerned that the University Administration is endangering the expediency of the Purple Line and hopes that strong and vocal student support will show which alignment has the most support from members of the Maryland community; and, 18. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the SGA strongly supports the Campus Drive alignment for the Purple Line and will communicate and lobby for this preferred alignment to members of the University Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transportation Authority and the Maryland General Assembly; and, 19. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this support may be reconsidered in the future only if new information becomes available that proves the inadequacy and weakness of the ‘Campus Drive alignment.’ Sponsor: Matt Verghese, Engineering Legislator Co-sponsors: Josh Swanner, South Campus Commons Legislator Kate Bodner, North Hill Legislator |
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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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