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

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • We Want to Hear from YOU!
  • Are You a Purple Line NOW Donor?
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Community Advisory Team Meeting Schedule Set
• Construction News & Project Features
  
  • Open House to Meet New Builder
  • Photos from Around the Corridor

Share This Newsletter

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 NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

We Want to Hear from YOU!

We have just three issues left before our 100th issue of Purple Line NOW News! Thank you to those who have sent blurbs of memories from the early days (specifically, the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s!) We need more! Pictures are particularly fun -- and if someone is rocking those muttonchop sideburns while advocating for what was (eventually) to become the Purple Line, all the better!

If you didn't catch it in our previous newsletters, we are planning a commemorative issue and want to take a stroll down memory lane -- back to the beginning of the project, when the idea of a Purple Line was just a hope and a dream. If you were around these parts back then and have photos, an anecdote or two, or even a memory of the work that went into imagining an east-west light rail train, finding support from elected officials, applying for federal funding, or any other hurdle (or achievement), PLEASE send them our way!

Here are four questions we would LOVE for you to answer -- cut and paste into an email or just send a free-form blurb -- whatever works for you. We will include as many as we can in the issue, but time is running out. Send to Christine Scott, Executive Director at [email protected]. Thank you! 

1) What are you most looking forward to when the Purple Line opens (besides the end of construction!)?

2) If you were around during the early years, do you have a specific memory of advocating for the project or a hurdle that the project overcame?

3) What positive changes do you expect to see in our communities once the Purple Line opens?

4) Once the Purple Line opens for passengers, which station(s) do you anticipate using most?

Are You A Purple Line NOW Donor?

Each month, we rotate onto our Donors List those who have made a financial contribution to Purple Line NOW in the previous month. If that includes you, your name will stay on that list for a full year following your contribution. Thank you, thank you!

**If you do not see your name on our Donors List, we hope you will consider helping us continue our work!** 

We use every donation we receive to continue our newsletter, continue offering regular webinars, continue being a strong liaison to help connect you to people who can solve your issues, and continue our strong advocacy for the project in every way possible. If you would like to know more about who we are, why we are asking for donations, and what we do with your gift once it arrives on our doorstep, you can read all about it in our November newsletter.

Thank you so much for your consideration! Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed on our website and in publications for a year following your donation.

THE PURPLE LINE IN THE NEWS

Shaver, K. “Unions protest lack of labor agreement on Purple Line construction.” Washington Post, 25 May 2022.

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Community Advisory Team Meetings to Resume in June

Dates for the Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings have been set. Please note: these meetings will be in-person at the locations noted below.

• Bethesda/Chevy Chase
  June 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  North Chevy Chase Elementary School
  3700 Jones Bridge Road
  Chevy Chase, MD 20815
• Riverdale Park-Glenridge/New Carrollton
  June 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  Purple Line Project Office
  6811 Kenilworth Avenue (1st floor)
  Riverdale, MD 20737
• Greater Lyttonsville/Woodside
  June 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  Rosemary Hills Elementary School
  2111 Porter Road
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• College Park
  June 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  Purple Line Project Office
  6811 Kenilworth Avenue (1st floor)
  Riverdale, MD 20737
• Silver Spring
  June 21, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
  Silver Spring International Middle School
  313 Wayne Avenue
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• University Boulevard
  June 23, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  Purple Line Project Office
  6811 Kenilworth Avenue (1st floor)
  Riverdale, MD 20737
• Long Branch
  June 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  Oak View Elementary School
  400 East Wayne Avenue
  Silver Spring, MD 20901

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Open House to Meet New Builder

As you probably know, the new builder for the Purple Line, Maryland Transit Solutions, was introduced to the public last week at two open houses, one held in Prince George's county and one held in Montgomery county. Greg Sanders, PLN’s Vice President, attended both and provides us with the following update:

The open houses were an opportunity to see both familiar faces from MTA and the Concessionaire and also to meet the project manager and construction manager for the new builder, respectively Terry Gohde and Julio Velez. The open houses had a range of great new graphics including depictions of how roughly half the stations will look in their final form, as well as updated projects maps that provided additional detail on station layouts. These should be available online soon.

Much of the value of these sessions is the ability to ask specific questions regarding concerns about construction near your neighborhood or business, as well as questions about the future commute. If you missed the open houses, the upcoming Community Advisory Team meetings are another great opportunity to ask these questions (see dates for the CATs above.) One thing I learned about the process was that one reason the testing process takes so long is that each light rail vehicle must be individually tested to make sure it will smoothly clear the station platforms, and the trolley atop the vehicle will stably connect with the overhead wires. The first run through goes at a slow pace, not under its own power, and testers will ride atop the vehicle to get an up close view of how the trams are connecting to their power source. According to the opening remarks, we should expect the testing to be finished in October 2026 for the beginning of revenue service.

While we are glad to have the builder finally on board and gearing up to be fully operational in August, it is also important to note that there were about 50 protesters from the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) outside the open house held in Silver Spring. Union workers want a "Project Labor Agreement" (PLA), noting that Maryland’s former Secretary of Transportation Greg Slater gave assurances that the new builder contract would contain that agreement.

According to the Washington Post, Purple Line Transit Partners CEO Doran Bosso emphasized that they “are committed to paying fair and competitive wages” and is agreeable to meeting with the union to figure out a way to work together to deliver the project in an “on-time and on-budget manner.” Council members for both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties are involved and pressing for a resolution that benefits workers in our respective communities. You can read more here.

Photos from Around the Corridor

Thank you to MDOT MTA for the following photos! Do you have a snap from around the corridor you'd like to share? Send them along to [email protected]. Photos must be your original. 

STAY CONNECTED

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.

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

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Input Needed for our 100th Issue of Purple Line NOW News!
  • Are You a Purple Line NOW Donor?
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Growth Along the Corridor
  • Support for Housing at Chevy Chase Library Site
  • Biden Administration Announces Transit-Oriented Priority
  • New Placemaking Minor Prepares Students to Envision Public Spaces
• Construction News & Project Features
  
  • Open Houses Scheduled to Meet New Builder
  • Community Advisory Team Meetings
  • Photos from Around the Corridor

Share This Newsletter

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 NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Input Needed for our 100th Issue of Purple Line NOW!

We have just four issues left before our 100th issue of Purple Line NOW News! Thank you to those who have sent blurbs of memories from the early days (specifically, the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s!) We need more! Pictures are particularly fun -- and if someone is rocking those muttonchop sideburns while advocating for what was (eventually) to become the Purple Line, all the better!

If you didn't catch it in our previous newsletters, we are planning a commemorative issue and want to take a stroll down memory lane -- back to the beginning of the project, when the idea of a Purple Line was just a hope and a dream. If you were around these parts back then and have photos, an anecdote or two, or even a memory of the work that went into imagining an east-west light rail train, finding support from elected officials, applying for federal funding, or any other hurdle (or achievement), PLEASE send them our way!

We will include as many as we can in the issue, but time is running out. Send to Christine Scott, Executive Director at [email protected]. Thank you! 

Are You A Purple Line NOW Donor?

Each month, we rotate onto our Donors List those who have made a financial contribution to Purple Line NOW in the previous month. If that includes you, your name will stay on that list for a full year following your contribution. Thank you, thank you!

**If you do not see your name on our Donors List, we hope you will consider helping us continue our work!** 

We use every donation we receive to continue our newsletter, continue offering regular webinars, continue being a strong liaison to help connect you to people who can solve your issues, and continue our strong advocacy for the project in every way possible. If you would like to know more about who we are, why we are asking for donations, and what we do with your gift once it arrives on our doorstep, you can read all about it in our November newsletter.

Thank you so much for your consideration! Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed on our website and in publications for a year following your donation.

THE PURPLE LINE IN THE NEWS

Bohnel, S., “County Council says it supports housing at Chevy Chase Library site.” Bethesda Magazine, 12 May 2022.

Haslam, M., "New Creative Placemaking Minor to Prepare Students to Envision Public Spaces." Maryland Today, 2 May 2022.

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Growth Along the Corridor

As we have seen since the Purple Line was given the green light back in 2015, there has been lots of new growth adjacent to the coming light rail. According to the Diamondback (May 8, 2022), one such development is set to open later this summer in College Park. The Aster is a 393-unit apartment complex which will include a Trader Joe’s grocery store, restaurants, and other retailers. The complex is located just south of campus and will appeal to the wider College Park community. Read more here: Aster: New multi-use development set to open in College Park

If you attended Purple Line NOW's virtual forum back in August 2020, you may remember John L. Ziegenhein, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chevy Chase Land Company and Justin Kennell, Development Manager, Bozzuto Development Company gave a brief overview of their new property development alongside the Purple Line station in Chevy Chase. They recently announced some of the new retailers that will be located within their plaza by late 2023, including The Creamery (the beloved Baltimore ice cream shop), restaurants Elena James, UnCorked, and Playa Bowls, as well as CVS, an as-yet-to-be-named grocer, and others. Read more here: https://www.chevychaselake.com/community/

Support for Housing at Chevy Chase Library Site

The Montgomery County Council has voted unanimously for an amendment calling for housing at the redesigned Chevy Chase Library, which happens to be very close to the new Purple Line station. According to an article in Bethesda Magazine, while the bill doesn’t guarantee housing at the site, it does “allow for the possibility of redevelopment of the Chevy Chase library, including housing on the site.” How many units might be included or under what price points the housing will fall has yet to be determined. (Bohnel, S., “County Council says it supports housing at Chevy Chase Library site.” Bethesda Magazine, 12 May 2022.)

Biden Administration Announces Transit-Oriented Development Priority

The Biden administration has announced that it is prioritizing transit-oriented development in the infrastructure bill passed on a bipartisan basis last year.

It appears that the U.S. Department of Transportation is prioritizing density and transit-oriented-development as it disburses discretionary funds from the bipartisan infrastructure package. You can read more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) at the link.

New Placemaking Minor Prepares Students to Envision Public Spaces

According to an article in Maryland Today, the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and the College of Arts and Humanities have created a minor in creative placemaking that "will use art, culture and design to spark conversations about a community's future.” As part of the curriculum, students will work in local communities, “including those that stand to be impacted by the the construction of Maryland's Purple Line to advance community goals, protect and celebrate identity and spur equitable economic development." (Haslam, M., "New Creative Placemaking Minor to Prepare Students to Envision Public Spaces." Maryland Today, 2 May 2022.)

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Open Houses Scheduled to Meet New Builder

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be holding two in-person open houses to introduce the public to Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS), the new design-build team. According to their press release, MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold said, "The team is looking forward to introducing our new design-build team to the community. We want to proactively engage with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to let them know in advance what construction work they can expect to see as we begin a new chapter of delivering the Purple Line for Maryland.”

The open houses will take place at two venues in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties:

• May 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring MD 20910
• May 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m., University of Maryland Stamp Student Union, Atrium, 3972 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742

We are looking forward to meeting the new partner and learning about the construction schedule going forward.

Community Advisory Team Meetings to Resume in June

We are thrilled the Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings will resume in June and will publish those dates as soon as they are set.

Photos from Around the Corridor

Thank you to MDOT MTA for the following photos! Do you have a snap from around the corridor you'd like to share? Send them along to [email protected]. Photos must be your original. 

STAY CONNECTED

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.

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

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Input Needed for our 100th Issue of Purple Line NOW News!
  • Are You a Purple Line NOW Donor?
• Purple Line in the News
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • PLN VP Gives Project Update to ACT
  • The Purple Line Makes Google Maps!
• Construction News & Project Features
  • Purple Line Contract Finalized!
  • Open Houses Scheduled to Meet New Builder
  • Update on Community Advisory Team Meetings Schedule

Share This Newsletter

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 NOW website which makes it easy to share with your friends, neighbors, constituents, customers, and employees.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Input Needed for our 100th Issue of Purple Line NOW!

We have just five issues left before our 100th issue of Purple Line NOW News! Thank you to those who have sent blurbs of memories from the early days (specifically, the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s!) We need more! Pictures are particularly fun -- and if someone is rocking those muttonchop sideburns while advocating for what was (eventually) to become the Purple Line, all the better!

If you didn't catch it in our last newsletter, we are planning a commemorative issue and want to take a stroll down memory lane -- back to the beginning of the project, when the idea of a Purple Line was just a hope and a dream. If you were around these parts back then and have photos, an anecdote or two, or even a memory of the work that went into imagining an east-west light rail train, finding support from elected officials, applying for federal funding, or any other hurdle (or achievement), PLEASE send them our way!

We will include as many as we can in the issue. Send to Christine Scott, Executive Director at [email protected]. Thank you! 

Are You A Purple Line NOW Donor?

Each month, we rotate onto our Donors List those who have made a financial contribution to Purple Line NOW in the previous month. If that includes you, your name will stay on that list for a full year following your contribution. Thank you, thank you!

**If you do not see your name on our Donors List, we hope you will consider helping us continue our work!** 

We use every donation we receive to continue our newsletter, continue offering regular webinars, continue being a strong liaison to help connect you to people who can solve your issues, and continue our strong advocacy for the project in every way possible. If you would like to know more about who we are, why we are asking for donations, and what we do with your gift once it arrives on our doorstep, you can read all about it in our November newsletter.

Thank you so much for your consideration! Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed on our website and in publications for a year following your donation.

THE PURPLE LINE IN THE NEWS

Parsons, J., "Maryland's Purple Line Readies for Restart." Engineering News-Record, 22 April 2022.

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

PLN Vice President Gives Update on Project

On April 12, before the news regarding the financial close was announced, Purple Line NOW's Vice President Greg Sanders gave a project update to Action Committee for Transit. The update included an overview of the schedule until opening day, a little bit about the new builder, and some of the modified provisions provided in the new contract. One important takeaway came from Maryland State Delegate Jared Solomon (D-18) who said that he and his colleagues continue to advocate for opening the Capital Crescent Trail when the project enters an extensive testing phase, before the rail opens to the public, but after construction has been completed. We will keep you posted when we learn of any news on that front.

The Purple Line Makes Google Maps

Even though it isn't "official" news, we noticed that the Purple Line stations are now designated on Google Maps! That is welcome news, especially for those who are new to the area (or even some long term residents) who are still unsure where those stops will be. Progress!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Purple Line Contract Finalized

In case you missed the news, not quite two weeks ago, the concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, had reached financial close with the new builder, Maryland Transit Solutions.

What does that mean, you might ask?

Financial close means that all of the necessary loans are in place. In addition to the direct support from Maryland and the federal matching loan, the public-private partnership includes public financing through a Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act and private financing, both held by the concessionaire.

Just like it is important to close a mortgage before moving in and starting renovations on a house, this financial close was necessary before major construction activity by the new builder could begin. It is the final step in the process of onboarding the new builder which will now allow them to begin ramping up construction in a big way along the corridor later this spring.

We are thrilled the parties have reached this milestone and wanted to share the good news with you, too! More details about the impending schedule, construction updates, and news from the state and concessionaire to come. Purple Line NOW congratulates all parties involved and thankful the project is moving forward!

You can read more here: MDOT MTA Press Release

Open Houses Scheduled to Meet New Builder

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be holding two in-person open houses to introduce the public to Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS), the new design-build team. According to their press release, MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold said, "The team is looking forward to introducing our new design-build team to the community. We want to proactively engage with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to let them know in advance what construction work they can expect to see as we begin a new chapter of delivering the Purple Line for Maryland.”

The open houses will take place at two venues in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties:
• May 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring MD 20910
• May 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m., University of Maryland Stamp Student Union, Atrium, 3972 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742

We are looking forward to meeting the new partner and learning about the construction schedule going forward.

Community Advisory Team Meetings to Resume in June

We are thrilled the Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings will resume in June and will publish those dates as soon as they are set.

Photos from Around the Corridor

Thank you to MDOT MTA for the following photos! Do you have a snap from around the corridor you'd like to share? Send them along to [email protected]. Photos must be your original. 

STAY CONNECTED

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.

The concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, has reached financial close with the new builder, Maryland Transit Solutions.

What does that mean, you might ask?

Financial close means that all of the necessary loans are in place. In addition to the direct support from Maryland and the federal matching loan, the public-private partnership includes public financing through a Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act and private financing, both held by the concessionaire.

Just like it is important to close a mortgage before moving in and starting renovations on a house, this financial close was necessary before major construction activity by the new builder could begin.

It is the final step in the process of onboarding the new builder which will now allow them to begin ramping up construction in a big way along the corridor later this spring.

We are thrilled the parties have reached this milestone and wanted to share the good news with you, too! More details about the impending schedule, construction updates, and news from the state and concessionaire to come.

Purple Line NOW congratulates all parties involved and thankful the project is moving forward!