We hope everyone has had a safe and productive start to the fall season!

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

• The First Tracks Are Installed!
• Our Fall Appeal is Here - Please Consider Helping Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work

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.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

The First Tracks Are Installed!

On September 5, Governor Larry Hogan and the Purple Line team celebrated the laying of the very first tracks of the 16.2-mile Purple Line light rail near the project terminus in New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. State and transit officials celebrated the milestone with Purple Line construction workers.

During the ceremony, Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Pete Rahn also raised an intriguing possibility regarding when we would be able to ride the Purple Line. The opening day of the project is presently being negotiated, as Governor Hogan explained, “unfortunately, we had some delays by the anti-transit opponents, who tied it up in court for more than a year. So we’re trying to make up for lost time.”

(Left to Right): PLTP CEO Peter van der Waart, MD Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, Governor Larry Hogan, Chuck Lattuca, Executive Director, Transit Development and Delivery at MDOT MTA, and Kevin Quinn, Administrator MDOT MTA.

The concessionaire has estimated a spring 2023 opening, but negotiations with the state are ongoing, so we do not have an official date. However, there is a possibility that even if the full opening slips to 2023, we may have a chance to ride in 2022. As Secretary Rahn announced, “[w]e are aiming to get a section of the track done and operational in 2022, and the second section up and running by 2023."

No details were reported on which section, but in the past, we've heard that access to the rail yard is critical for early operations, one more reason to pay close attention to positive developments like the track laying at Glenridge!

Here's a good article from WAMU for further reading: 'Real Progress' On Purple Line As First Tracks Go Down

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Can You Help Purple Line NOW Continue Its Work?

Last week, we sent out a formal appeal to our entire constituency. If you haven't already given this year, would you consider a donation to Purple Line NOW? We have reprinted the appeal here as it contains all the bits you might want to know about what we do with your donations - those dollars work hard!

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County councilmembers, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources.

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams.

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW. If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

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.

As we reported earlier this year, we here at Purple Line NOW have shifted our energy from our prior focus of advocating for funding and approval of the project to the daunting task of keeping communities along the Purple Line corridor up-to-speed regarding breaking news, construction woes, and exciting new developments being built around the new line.

Purple Line NOW operates on a very small budget and, as you know, we don’t hold special event fundraisers. Instead, we rely on an email outreach to our most dedicated supporters to help us meet our bottom line each year during our fall appeal campaign.

To that end, we ask for your financial support so that we may continue our work. Donating is easy via our secure link or by sending a check through the mail – all the information to do so can be found on our website.

Below, you will read what it is we do each year with your generous donations. As always, we are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just shoot us an email or give us a ring.

A reminder: Purple Line NOW does not receive underwriting grants from any source, government (local or otherwise), nor are we a membership organization (we do not ask for annual dues). We operate solely on donations from individuals and businesses like you who care about the Purple Line and whose generosity allow us to continue our work each year.

How Will Purple Line NOW Use My Donation?

As we said, Purple Line NOW exists on a very slender budget. Our work is done by a dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers, as well as one quarter-time employee. We pay for our website maintenance and for the resources needed to reach the community through email blasts, literature, and supplies. We also cover any expenses associated with hosting our popular educational forums – as you know, these events are always free and open to the public (we don’t charge you to attend!)

Purple Line NOW News

With your support, Purple Line NOW has published a bi-weekly, information-packed newsletter with the latest in construction news, photos, and insider information to keep you on top of what is going on in the field. We have a large following and we are often surprised that readers come from all over the country, from Baltimore to California! Thanks to the many volunteer contributors who help us write and release the newsletter every other week. It’s a big undertaking and we appreciate your support in making it happen! Did you know you can view all of our previous newsletters on our website?!

Envisioning the Purple Line Series

We continue the very popular Envisioning the Purple Line series of forums hosted in a variety of communities along the corridor in both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Just last month, we held an update in Chevy Chase, focused on Completing the Capital Crescent Trail where we brought in the CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners (the builders), Montgomery County council members, bicycle and trail advocates, and others to offer lots of information to the 70+ folks who attended. We try to do at least two events each year around the Purple Line Corridor. Previous events have been held in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Riverdale Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and more. We are currently working hard on organizing the next forum, so stay tuned!

Connecting People

Behind the scenes, Purple Line NOW serves as an unofficial clearing house of sorts for calls from residents and businesses who are looking for answers to issues they are experiencing while the project is under construction. We don’t always have all the answers, but we do try to connect folks with the proper resources!

Sharing Information

Purple Line NOW board members have a long tradition of attending hearings, testifying on behalf of the project, being a part of Purple Line-oriented neighborhood groups, and connecting to elected officials on behalf of the Line. Our volunteer board leadership continues to meet every single month in person, as they have done for over a decade, to share information gathered and exchange ideas to keep the project on track. We attend meetings, provide updates, and take notes! Many of our members stay on top of transit news through their membership and support of other local and regional transit organizations and many are also very active on the neighborhood Community Advisory Teams

Maintaining a Presence

Finally, Purple Line NOW maintains a strong social media presence, staying connected to thousands via Facebook and Twitter and through our website, Purple Line NOW.  If you haven’t signed up for those, do so today. You’ll get the latest news and be able to participate in discussions happening on those platforms.

Remember, with your donation, your name (or your business name) will be listed on our website, as well as in event literature and signage for a year following your donation.

We are grateful for your consideration of our request and for your support, financial and otherwise. We wish you a happy and healthy fall season.

Gratefully,

Purple Line NOW

We want to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day holiday this weekend! We have a shortened newsletter for you this week, but will be back to full speed ahead in September. In the meantime, enjoy this last dribble of summer!

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

• What We Know About Landscaping Plans Around the Purple Line
• Our Fall Appeal is Coming

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

CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW

What We Know About Landscaping for the Purple Line

Are you interested in what the landscaping might look like in and around some of the Purple Line stations? Did you know that you can find links to landscaping plans for eight of the station sites on the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) website? For example, here is a sample of the Silver Spring station:



We found this slide show from the Bethesda/Chevy Chase Community Advisory Team (CATs) held in January 2018, which gives additional landscaping graphics and photos for that particular station:

If you scroll through the presentation slides (which, along with notes from all the other CATs, can be found on MTA’s website under Public Involvement), you will even find a few slides which list many of the shrubs, trees, grasses, and perennials that may be used for landscaping.

On a related topic, just as we were going to press, we saw this Maryland Today article that has a colorful slide show of the Art-in-Transit plans at several of the stations located near the University of Maryland.

PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS

Where Would You Like Us to Hold the Next Forum?

These events are an invaluable source of information and we hope you’ll join us at one in the future! We are always open to ideas about where we should host our next event. Send your suggestions to us at[email protected].

PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION

Each fall, we send out a heartfelt appeal for donations (we call them sponsorships) to individuals and businesses who support the project and our organization's work. Look for that appeal in the coming weeks. As always, 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 sponsorships are 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. 

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. Thank you!

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.

We hope you are enjoying the last bit of summer and finding some time to relax and recharge. Purple Line NOW News will back in two weeks, but we wanted to leave you with a little something in the meantime. Thanks to our volunteer, John Wetmore, our recent forum last month in Chevy Chase is nowup on YouTube. For those of you unable to make the forum, you can now see it here: Completing the Capital Crescent Trail.

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

Thank You to our Many Sponsors!

We hope you will join us in thanking our sponsors and donors for their dedication to making sure Purple Line NOW continues its work and we hope you will take a moment to join them! 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 sponsorships are 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. 

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.

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.