We hope everyone is enjoying a safe and sunny summer! Read on for a photo-filled update on the upcoming forum, the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility (you're not going to believe the size of that structure!), and why Purple Line NOW needs your support to continue bringing you the latest news via its website, fora, and this newsletter.

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

• Last Chance to Reserve Your Seat for Next Week's Purple Line NOW Forum: Completing the Capital Crescent Trail!
• A Construction Update on the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility
• Show Your Support by Becoming a Sponsor of Purple Line NOW - All Levels Welcome!

Reserve Your Seat for the Next Purple Line NOW Forum

When?
Thursday, July 25, 2019 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (Meet & Greet starts at 6:30 pm, program will start promptly at 7:00 pm.)

Where? 
Jane E. Lawton Community Center in Chevy Chase, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Parking is free and first come, first served. Attendees are encouraged to use transit when possible.

How?
Because we want to ensure enough seats for everyone who would like to attend, please make sure you have RSVP'd by clicking on this link: RESERVE MY SEAT!  

Join us for an evening all about the Capital Crescent Trail! We'll have a status update, a peek into the future, and answer your burning trail questions! 

Here's a sneak preview of our terrific panel of experts:

• Montgomery County Planning Board Transportation Supervisor, David Anspacher. David supervises multi-modal transportation planning efforts at the Montgomery County Planning Department. He has worked on the Purple Line project since 2010 and was the Project Manager for the recently approved Bicycle Master Plan.

• Montgomery County District 1 Councilmember, Andrew Friedson. Councilmember Friedson is an advocate for comprehensive transportation solutions and a lifelong resident of District 1. He serves on the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee.

• Board Member of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Peter Gray. Peter has worked on transportation issues for many years as a bicycling advocate and was Chair of the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail for five years and a board member for seven years. He is also a member of the Purple Line Now Board - lucky us!

• Project Manager at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Matt Johnson. Matt manages the implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area program and other projects, including bicyclist and pedestrian projects in Silver Spring and Bethesda. He also manages the Capital Crescent Surface Trail project.

• Montgomery County At-Large Councilmember, Hans Riemer. Councilmember Riemer, a long time advocate of the Purple Line, serves as chair of the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee and as a member of the Transportation & Environment Committee.

• The new CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners, Peter van der Waart. We are excited to welcome Peter to our forum and we know you will enjoy meeting him as much as we have. Peter joined Purple Line Transit Partners as CEO in May, having previously served for two years as a director on the PLTP Board.

Purple Line NOW, a non-profit organization, works hard to ensure these events are always free to the public. Thanks to our many sponsors who make our work possible! (Scroll down to see the list of these generous folks.)

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Please feel free to share this newsletter - no permission from us needed! You can always find a link to our newsletter on our Purple Line NOWwebsite which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

The Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility

Those of you able to attend the groundbreaking in Glenridge for the Purple Line two years ago may remember the small shed in the background. During the signing ceremony that day, Governor Hogan took part in the demolition festivities to make way for the new Glenridge Operations and Maintenance (O&M) facility.

The new Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) will be the primary facility to service the Purple Line trains. As you can see, structural steel beams have already been erected this spring and summer. Those beams will form the bones of the immense building.

OMF Exterior. Photo courtesy of Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP).

Even those with only a passing interest in watching the construction sausage being made will find the scale of the new building impressive. While the building is not a perfect rectangle, its longest section is 358 feet and its widest, 277 feet. For (American) football fans, that’s roughly the same as two football fields laid side to side!

OMF Exterior. Photo courtesy of PLTP.

Why so big? When the building is finished, it will house a total of eight train bays, six for service, one for washing, and one for painting. Purple Line trains will be locally tested on a test track that will run from Glenridge to the New Carrollton Metrorail station with the first piece of track being laid this summer. As you can see below, steel pans have been set for the floor decks. This area will eventually serve as an equipment storage room.

Steel Pans Set in SW Corner. Photo Courtesy of PLTP.

Below you can see that steel rebar has been set and is awaiting pours of concrete that will form a walkway in one of the eight train bays. This one in particular will serve as the bay in which trains will be washed.

SE Corner, Facing Veterans Parkway. Photo Courtesy of PLTP.

If you live or work in the area and you are signed up for the Maryland Transit Administration's helpful construction updates, you will likely have received the following:

During the month of July, crews will continue construction of the future Operations and Maintenance Facility at the Glenridge Yard. Road work will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Concrete pours will occur between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on an as-needed basis on weekdays and weekends.

Photo Courtesy of PLTP.

We hope you have enjoyed a peek behind the scenes of one of the largest structures being erected along the route. Even though construction of the facility is not on the radar of most residents, it will serve an important role in testing, maintenance service, and keeping those rail cars looking spiffy!

PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS

Next Forum: Completing the Capital Crescent Trail

Don't forget to reserve your seat for this informative evening (see above). This is the first time we will focus solely on the Capital Crescent Trail. We have a brilliant panel of experts to get us up to speed on what is currently happening on the trail and what we can expect down the road (or, in this case, trail!)

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Purple Line NOW Needs Your Sponsorship Today

Thanks to our many sponsors who make our work possible! (Scroll down to see the list of these generous folks.)

If you need more information before you push the donate button, click here to read all about what we do with your donations! All levels of sponsorshipsare welcomed and appreciated!

As always, we are happy to share financial information about our operating expenses and our income. Just shoot us an email or give us a call. When we say we do a lot on a skinny budget, we mean it. 

We hope you will consider joining these generous sponsors already on board – and remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website and in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

WE APPRECIATE THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR SPONSORS!

FEATURED SPONSORS

CHEVY CHASE LAND COMPANY

THE MALLOY AND SANDERS FAMILY

TINA, DON, AND JESSIE SLATER

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (UMUC)

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

ATU Local 689

ENGINEERS

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

Bee and Brian Ditzler

Nancy and Rob Soreng

CONDUCTORS

Action Committee for Transit

Anne Ambler

John Carroll

Dr. Troy Jacobs and Dr. Kawsar Talaat

Landmark Realty, Inc.

Ben Ross

Christine Scott and JohnR Llewellyn

Sam Statland

COMMUTERS

Dave and Linda Anderson, Elizabeth Barbehenn, Ralph Bennett, Glen Bottoms, Jonathan Elkind, 
Andrew Fellows, Neil Greene, Virginia Haufler, Melanie Isis, Kevin Kirby, Mary Lanigan, Rhonda Long, 
William Mallari, Anita Morrison, Gareth Rosenau, Bill Strein, Eric Talbot

PASSENGERS

Tim Anderegg, Charles Bell, Douglas Bowen, Casey Brennan, Jeff Cronin, Ronit Dancis, Joseph Fainberg, 
Miti Figueredo, Patrick Flaherty, Cody Goebel, David Hondowicz, Greg Madde, Mark Mesiti-Miller, 
Judith Morenoff, Rodolfo Perez, Mark Posner, Jason Poteat, Dan Reed, Frederick Schultz, 
Elizabeth Shannon, Jerry Withers, William Young

Get Connected

Make sure you are signed up for timely alerts from Purple Line NOW via our Twitter and Facebook pages, and at our website Purple Line NOW.