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

• What's Happening at PLN?
  
  • Big Forum News! Mark Your Calendars!
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Purple Line in the News
• Construction Updates and Project Features

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

We Have Big News!

***We have set the date for the next forum and our keynote speaker will be Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Paul J. Wiedefeld! 
Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, September 4, 7:00 - 8:30 pm!***

We are so excited to have Secretary Wiedefeld join us for an update on all things Purple Line! As in the past, an update with Maryland's top transportation leader is a super popular event and we are thrilled to hear his overview on the progress being made to get this project to completion. Joining the Secretary will be representatives from both Prince George's and Montgomery County councils, as well as representatives from the concessionaire and state project team.

This will be a virtual webinar, and as always, the event is open to everyone, including press. Because of donations from you, our supporters, we are able to bring these educational events to you free -- there is never a charge -- but you must reserve your seat in advance. We will send a formal invite soon with the sign-up link, so keep an eye out for that.

With all the track being laid along the line, new cars arriving at the OMF building throughout the summer, and orange-clad crews working hard to move the project along, we are very much looking forward to this forum and hope you are, too!

**If you or your business would like to sponsor this event, please let us know as soon as possible!** 

We hope you will take a moment to consider a donation, in any amount, to Purple Line NOW. We exist on a skinnier-than-skinny budget, but with the help of a large team of volunteers and your donations, we are able to bring this newsletter and lots of other educational information, including our forums, to you.

You can easily donate by clicking the Purple "Donate" button below. Not sure if you've given in the past twelve months? Check our website to see if your name is listed. Thank you from all of us here at Purple Line NOW!

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Purple Line in the News

From time to time, we find articles in the news that are either directly related to the project or Purple Line-adjacent in terms of subject matter and share those we think might be of interest. Simply because we can't get enough of the Light Rail Vehicles arriving, here are two tidbits from Councilmembers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

The first, a photo from District 3, Prince George's Councilmember Eric Olson, who attended the event, had this to say about the event, "Seeing the Purple Line rail cars is truly amazing. This marks a significant milestone for this historic project. The Purple Line is set to play a crucial role in achieving our climate, transportation, and economic development goals. I can't wait for it to be open to the public!"

Councilmember Eric Olson

Last edition, we shared highlights from Montgomery County Council President, Evan Glass, who attended the Light Rail Vehicle unveiling earlier last month, but he also featured the day in his newsletter.

And, finally we share an article that was sent to us on affordable housing. Transit is critical to housing affordability because it greatly increases the number of people with access to job centers and places to learn and shop. The opinion piece, which can be found here, discusses steps and investments that can further increase the affordable housing gains provided by the Purple Line while minimizing the risk of displacement to those already on the corridor. 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Construction Updates

In their July 2024 newsletter, MTA Senior Project Director for the Purple Line, Ray Biggs highlighted all of the work being done along the track, "The Purple Line is more than 65 percent complete; two-thirds of our stations are currently being constructed and more than 46,000 feet of track has been installed. This includes more than 70 percent of the track completed on Campus Drive at the University of Maryland. Construction work is visible all along the alignment, including new sidewalks, bridges, bicycle paths and paving, more tracks, and other improvements."

A drive along the alignment highlights all the work being done with crews dotting nearly every inch of the path, with the first station benches being installed at Riverdale Park North-UMD, embedded track already in place in both directions on the University of Maryland campus, and the Rock Creek Trail near Jones Mill Road reopened in June! 

With the unveiling of the cars last month (see our previous PLN Newsletter for photos and details), we received a ton of questions about the cars, which are arriving throughout the summer at the OMF building. Here are a few tidbits you might not have known: 

• Each Purple Line light rail vehicle (LRV) can seat 80 riders, with a total ridership capacity of 430
• Purple Line LRVs include on-board storage for 8 bicycles
• Purple Line LRVs are ADA-compliant with low floors for easy boarding and designated area to safely store 8 wheelchairs

Photo Courtesy: Greg Sanders

If you would like to know where construction detours and closures are happening along the route, please visit the project website where you will find a map and details of detours.

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