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Why Build the Purple Line in Montgomery County?
- Commuter Relief: The Purple Line offers a convenient way to avoid congestion for people who commute to jobs in Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton, and who are tired of sitting in traffic every morning. MTA estimates of 42,000 to 47,000 riders per weekday are well over the average for existing and proposed light rail projects in the United States. The trip between Bethesda and Silver Spring will only be 9 minutes long. With direct links to Red Line Metrorail stations at both these important centers, transit service will be dramatically improved for residents in Rockville Wheaton, Friendship Heights and all other Metrorail stops, especially along the two branches of the Red Line.
- Economic Development: The Purple Line supports Montgomery County’s technology-based smart-growth economic development strategy by linking major activity hubs.
- Community Revitalization: The Purple Line will bring new energy to Long Branch and the Takoma/Langley crossroads area, providing an attractive and vibrant alternative to sprawl development. It will support the transit-oriented development of Silver Spring and Bethesda, as well as efforts to make other community centers along its path more pedestrian-friendly.
- Cost: The Purple Line's cost of $1.1 to 1.7 billion can be funded by a partnership between county, state and federal governments. MTA data released in fall, 2007 supports project’s cost-effectiveness under the standards of the Federal Transit Administration.
- Fairness: The Purple Line will support low and moderate income residents of communities along its path, while also providing a good transportation alternative for wealthier people who just don’t want to drive. Many current bus commuters would have more than an extra hour every day to spend with their families because of shorter commuting time with the Purple Line
- Neighborhoods and Pedestrian Safety: Access to the Purple Line will be primarily on foot, by bus or connecting rail. The Purple Line will come with the completion of the Capital Crescent and Silver Spring Green Trails as well as new crosswalks and sidewalks along its path. Neighborhoods along the Purple Line will be revitalized as people seek housing that is close to Purple Line stops.
- Education: The Purple Line will provide direct service to the University of Maryland, so students, employees, and Terps fans will have better access to the world-class sports, cultural, and educational resources. Transit access to Montgomery College will also be improved with the Purple Line
- Livability: The quality of life in all our inner suburban communities can only be preserved if we provide transit alternatives for our citizens. Georgetown rejected Metro 30 years ago and now regrets its opposition. Ironically, the District’s recommended solution is a cross-city light rail transit line.
- Timing: The time has come to build the Purple Line which has an excellent chance of competing for federal New Starts funding. We must accelerate the planning and design process to maintain the project’s momentum and come up with the best alignment for the project.
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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: Calendar of Events.
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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