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

• What's Happening at PLN?
  • Fall Fundraising Season Begins
• Happening Along the Purple Line Corridor
  • Fall Community Advisory Team Meetings Scheduled
  • Beyond the Rails Grant Opportunity
• Construction Updates and Project Features
  
  • Brief Recap of PLN Fall Forum with Recording Link

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PLN?

Fall Fundraising Season Begins

You may see a few more asks from us in the coming weeks -- fall is usually the time when Purple Line NOW focuses our efforts on fundraising, whether it is through event sponsorship, individual sponsors, or corporate sponsorship -- every dime and dollar is appreciated and put to good use.

Your donation will help us continue our advocacy efforts and ensure the Purple Line project is a success. If you are a previous donor, thank you for your past gift(s) to us and continuing your support into the future. If you are not sure whether you contributed to us in the past year, check out our current donors on our website. (All donors are listed for a year following their donation.)

If you are new to us, welcome! Please contact us with any questions you may have. 

The "DONATE" button below will take you directly to the donation page. Thank you in advance for your consideration and for all you do for our community!

HAPPENING ALONG THE PURPLE LINE CORRIDOR

Fall Community Advisory Team Meeting Schedule

The meeting dates and times for the fall Community Advisory Team (CATs) meetings has been set. Visit their website for call information and a link to log into the meetings:

October 10
Silver Spring
6:00 p.m.

October 12
College Park
6:00 p.m.

October 17
Bethesda/Chevy Chase
6:00 p.m.

October 19
University Boulevard
6:00 p.m.

October 24
Greater Lyttonsville/Woodside
6:00 p.m.

November 2
Riverdale Park-Glenridge/New Carrollton
6:00 p.m.

November 7
Long Branch
6:00 p.m.

Beyond the Rails Grant Opportunity

The Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) has funded a grant program that will support organizations dedicated to improving our communities. Grants will range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year and will be awarded in the following categories:

• Community – Projects that support the overall wellbeing of adjacent communities (e.g., environment, health, recreation, education, economic opportunity, etc.). Potential example: Tot-lot equipment for a pre-school.
• Environment – Projects that enhance or protect the natural environment. Potential example: A local tree-planting initiatives.

If you know of an organization or group that might meet the criteria above, please share this information -- the deadline for application is November 30. Details on how to apply can be found on their website.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & PROJECT FEATURES

Brief Recap on Purple Line NOW Fall Forum

We were thrilled to host an information-packed forum two weeks ago that put the spotlight on the future of the communities surrounding the Purple Line.

The forum, Planning for the Purple Line – Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties’ Initiatives, featured a fantastic panel with Planning Board Chairs from both Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Artie Harris, (Montgomery County) and Peter Shapiro, (Prince George’s County), Evan Glass, Montgomery County Council President, Eric Olson, Prince George's County Council Member and Transportation Committee Chair, Maricela Cordova, Montgomery County Department of Transportation Acting Deputy Director, Transportation Policy, Christina Contreras, Strategic Projects Implementation Manager, and Victor Weissberg, Special Assistant to the Director and Major Projects Manager, Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation.

We are grateful for each of these very busy professionals for sharing a thoughtful and forward-looking update from their neck of the woods as it pertains to all we have to look forward to once the project is complete.

If you missed the forum, you can watch it here: Purple Line NOW September 20, 2023 Forum. Many of the questions you submitted in advance were answered during the course of the presentations and for those that we were not able to get to, we will provide follow-up soon.

Our Vice President, Greg Sanders, who also manages all of our social media, tweeted out some great tidbits live during the forum and included some helpful links, too:

1) Chair Artie Harris @montgomeryplans shared the Montgomery Board's plan for safe and convenient pedestrian access to the Purple Line. https://t.co/Pnl6NY0xlg

2) Chair Peter Shapiro and Prince George's County are working to create a scorecard for that county's efforts and also a placemaking initiative in Riverdale. 

3) Prince George's County Councilmember Eric Olson covered Plan 2035, a comprehensive guide for the future of development in Prince George's county. http://planpgc2035.org

3) Montgomery Council President @CMEvanGlass raised the challenges of construction, equitable growth, & the importance of bike & road safety. The Council just passed the Safe Streets act which will be relevant to many bikers and walkers going to the line or nearby.

4) Maricela Cordova highlighted the grant program for businesses negatively affected by Purple Line. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/business/purpl

5) MoCo Strategic Projects Implementation Manager Contreras noted that the concessionaire is aiming to open the Bethesda to Silver Spring part of the trail at a point when it can be generally opened and would not be subjected to recurring widespread closures.

6) Vic Weissberg of @PGCountyDPWT followed on the safety issues describes vision zero as their centerpiece and vision zero is centered on building on the data. So this means working with the state to address safety during construction and making sure key corridors around the line become safer, for example at Metzerott Rd. and Adelphi Rd. Prince George's county has won grants that will help with these safety upgrades. https://t.co/345v2L336S

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