In today's edition of Purple Line NOW News, here's what you'll find:

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Purple Line NOW Awarded Beyond the Rails Grant!
  • We Appreciate All of our Donors
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Black History Month
  • Tree Planting Information
• Construction Updates and Project Features
  • Upcoming Closures to Note

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Purple Line NOW Awarded Beyond the Rails Grant!

Purple Line NOW was delighted to learn that our popular Envisioning the Purple Line Forum series has been chosen to receive a grant from the concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP)!

In a press release issued on January 31, 2024, the concessionaire explained what motivated them to launch this grant program which will help organizations like ours provide valuable services to the greater Purple Line community, “As a long-time member of the community itself, PLTP sponsors the Beyond the Rails community grant program as a way to give back to communities in which PLTP, in partnership with MDOT MTA, is building the Purple Line and through which it will operate the system for 30 years after opening.”

We are honored to be in the company of five other outstanding programs awarded in this inaugural round of grants, all providing valuable services and education to our community! Doran Bosso, PLTP Chief Executive Officer, remarked, “We’re excited to provide financial backing to these six remarkable groups, which work tirelessly to make our local communities better places to live, work and play. Choosing these awardees from the numerous worthy applications we received was not an easy task.”

Purple Line NOW is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue our Envisioning the Purple Line series this year and have already started preparations for the next event, so watch this space!

This round of grantees are:

1. Art for Education on Reuse and a Sustainable Environment, Community Forklift, Edmonston
2. Envisioning the Purple Line Forum Series, Purple Line Now, Silver Spring
3. Greater Riverdale Thriving Health Fairs, The Metamorphosis Community Project, Riverdale
4. Practical Entrepreneurship Education Program, WETATi Academy, Riverdale
5. Purple Line Walkability Community Outreach, Carole Highlands Neighborhood Association, Takoma Park
6. Youth-Led Community Festival on Flower Avenue, Healing Practice Counseling, Takoma Park

For those who wish to apply for the next series of grants, they will be selected in mid-2024:

Starting with the six grants just awarded, PLTP will award 12 Beyond the Rails community grants annually (i.e., six groups every half-year). The next group of awardees is slated to be selected in mid 2024. PLTP encourages community groups that either did not apply for the initial group of grants or were not selected to apply by completing the two-page application. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Beyond the Rails grants are valued at between $1,000 and $3,000 and community-oriented groups in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are invited to apply. Successful applications will support organizations or neighborhoods (as opposed to individuals); provide benefits to a community adjacent to the Purple Line corridor; and must be related to the following categories:

• Community – Supports the overall wellbeing of neighboring communities (e.g., safety, health, recreation, education); and
• Environment – Enhances or protects the natural environment.

All of us here at Purple Line NOW are grateful to PLTP for this award that will extend our ability to bring timely and valuable information to the community through our Envisioning the Purple Line series of fora, which are always free to anyone wishing to attend. We will have photos to share from the award ceremony soon!

We Appreciate All of our Donors

With your help, and with the help of an awesome donor who matched your donations, we were able to raise a whopping $9,305 during our fall campaign. Every donation, small and large, that came in throughout the holiday season had us cheering and so very thankful to have such amazing supporters. To our matching donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, we thank you for helping us spur others to give, as well. We simply could not have been as successful without that motivating nudge.

Our need is ongoing - we operate on a budget between $20,000 and $25,000 each year, so if you missed the matching campaign, please know that your donation any time of year in any amount is welcomed and necessary for us to continue our work. You can easily donate by clicking the Purple "Donate" button below.

Thank you from all of us here at Purple Line NOW!

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Black History Month

During Black History Month, the Purple Line recognizes the SafeBus Company. Formed in 1926 by 13 Black jitney operators, the company provided transportation to underserved black neighborhoods in segregated Winston-Salem, NC. (@PurpleLineMD Twitter feed)

Tree Planting Information

The Woodside Civic Association continues to encourage the planting of street trees in the neighborhood and some of the information from their recent meeting may be helpful to anyone in Montgomery County, regardless of which neighborhood you live:

• Click on the link for a detailed list of species the County will plant.
• Reforest Montgomery supports the planting of trees on private property. For information click on the link below or contact Mia Rothberg at 301-495-4614.
• Tree Montgomery also assists with trees on private property.
• Street Trees on state roads -- this includes 16th Street and Georgia Avenue -- is under the jurisdiction of the State Highway Administration. If you are interested in helping to get trees planted on 16th Street, please let the Woodside Civic Association know. While nothing can be done in the vicinity of the Purple Line work or near the 16th and Georgia Avenue intersections, funding may be available to make 16th Street greener between these areas.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Upcoming Closures to Note

In case you haven’t heard about these significant closures, we wanted to highlight a few that may affect you:

Red Line Stations

There will be a temporary closure of the Red Line stations between Silver Spring and Glenmont over the summer as part of the upgrade to Silver Spring station that will allow direct access from the top of the Silver Spring Transit Center.

According to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), “Beginning in early June, Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma stations on the Red Line will be closed. The closure will continue through early September with the possibility of reducing the work zone to allow Takoma Station to reopen prior to the end of construction.”

We know the temporary closure will be a headache in the short term, but ultimately will benefit current users and future Purple Line riders.

Rock Creek Trail

From the MDOT MTA website: On or about February 21, 2024, the Rock Creek Trail will be closed for approximately four weeks at the location of the Purple Line Bridge. This closure is required to allow crews to remove diversion piping, rehabilitate Rock Creek under the bridge, and make repairs to the trail. Work may take place in multiple shifts from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. as needed to complete the work before the spring environmental restrictions take place. A signed detour has been established around the closed portion of Trail. Please follow all signs and avoid entering into the work zone.

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