Purple Line NOW News - September 5, 2018
Before you dig into this edition of our chock-full-of-information newsletter, a few dates for Purple Line related events we wanted to call your attention to hosted by MTA:
- Purple Line Open House (Montgomery County), October 1, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Silver Spring Civic Building
- Purple Line Open House (Prince George's County), October 4, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, UMD Stamp Student Union Atrium
And, as you'll read below, we have added a new page to our website where we will keep a running list of businesses that have relocated (or will be soon), some that have closed, and others that will be able to remain open during construction. (Hat tip to the Source of the Spring for rounding up the state of Spring Center businesses last year.) If you have any updates we missed, now or in the coming months, please email our Executive Director, Christine Scott ([email protected]) and we will update our list accordingly.
Please feel free to share this bi-weekly newsletter with others who may appreciate information about the project. As always, if you have any feedback on how we can improve the newsletter, drop us a line! If you find the information contained in our newsletter useful, please consider a donation to us (we are a not-for-profit organization).
CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW |
Strip Mall Demolished to Construct Future Purple Line Station
Another demolition that is essential to the construction of the Purple Line got underway late last month.
The Spring Center strip mall on 16th Street in Silver Spring was demolished to clear way for the construction of the Purple Line tracks, as well as the future Woodside/16th St. station, which will sit towards the rear of where the shopping center once stood, adjacent to the CSX train tracks. The property will also serve as the primary construction staging area in Montgomery County, meaning that materials and heavy equipment used for construction will be stored there.
The above map shows path the Purple Line will take through property and location of Woodside/16th St. station
The majority of the property had been fenced off since the beginning of the year, but demolition was put on hold until all of the businesses had relocated. The last tenant to move out was the United States Post Office, which closed at the end of July. Coincidentally, the post office has temporarily relocated to a location just steps away from another Purple Line station: the Silver Spring Library!
Half of Spring Center has been demolished. The other half is still in process of being torn down
Though construction of the Purple Line requires the complete demolition of the shopping center, not all of the property will be utilized by the Purple Line. Approximately four acres of land will be available for redevelopment once construction of the Purple Line is finished, making it a prime location for a new mixed-use retail/residential development.
The southern portion of the strip mall has been completely demolished
The demolition displaced more than twenty businesses, but, on the bright side, many of them have found new homes in and around downtown Silver Spring. When people think of supporting businesses during the construction period, they tend to think of the businesses that will remain open during heavy construction; but it’s important for us, as community members, to also patronize businesses that were forced to relocate through no fault of their own. To that end, we’ve created a handy dandy webpage with a listing of the businesses that were impacted by the demolition of the Spring Center, as well as information about their other locations or their relocation addresses.
We encourage you and your neighbors to continue to frequent these businesses during the construction period and beyond.
Lane Closure Goes Into Effect at The University of Maryland
A new traffic pattern has gone into effect on a major artery through the heart of the University of Maryland's College Park campus.
On the eve of the first day of classes, Campus Drive permanently transitioned to a one-way road in order to accommodate the forthcoming construction of the Purple Line tracks that will line either side of the street. From this point forward, the road will only be open to westbound traffic with the exception of buses and emergency vehicles, which will be permitted to travel in both directions when the tracks are clear of trains.
Traffic headed west on Campus Drive with Stamp Student Union pictured in background
This isn't the first time Campus Drive has been restricted to one-way travel. The eastbound lane was previously closed to traffic while the beautiful Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center was being constructed on Campus Drive. Unlike that closure though, this one will remain in place even after construction is complete.
To help drivers adjust to the new traffic pattern, Purple Line Transit Partners has disseminated a map highlighting alternate routes around the closure.
But wait, there's more!
As part of the construction project, a nearly 1-mile long bike path will also be constructed parallel to the Purple Line as it crosses the campus. The separated bi-directional bike path will run from Presidential Drive on the west side of campus to Baltimore Avenue (aka Route 1) on the east side.
The bike path is indicated by the green line, and stations by train icons
For the latest information on construction affecting UMD, visit the University's Purple Line webpage or the official project website.
PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS |
Stay tuned - our next forum in the Envisioning the Purple Line series will be held later this fall. We are busy working to find a date right now and will send an invite in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for that announcement.
Take a peek at our terrific supporters to date and please consider joining these folks as you are able. The benefits of sponsorship are listed on our website and donating is easy - just follow this link: I'd like to become a sponsor!
Thank you for your support. Your feedback is always welcome - let us know where we can help!
PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION |
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.
Reserve Your Seat - Purple Line NOW Forum!
The next forum is at the Park and Planning Building in Riverdale Park (6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale Park, MD 20737) on Monday, July 23, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.
We have a terrific slate of speakers for this educational event including the new CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners, Fred Craig, Prince George's County Council Chair, Dannielle Glaros, and the Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, Dr. Gerrit-Jan Knaap.
Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested in attending - it promises to be a very informative evening!
The event is free and open to the public and media, but you'll need to reserve your seat as space is limited to the first 100 folks. You can reserve your seat by clicking on this link: Save Me a Seat!
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Please take a moment to become a sponsor.
In order for us to continue this informative series, we rely on your donations. Your sponsorship of this signature series is an ideal opportunity to connect with project stakeholders, as well as key leaders and community organizers.
If you support the Purple Line - this is a terrific way to let the community know it!
As you know, Purple Line NOW operates on a bare bones budget - and we spend every dime we raise to make sure the project is the best it can be by providing educational opportunities along with many other efforts for those communities along the Purple Line route. These efforts include testifying before local, state, and federal entities as well as providing regular information regarding the progress and any major developments through our website, Twitter, and Facebook.
Please take a moment to join these amazing and generous sponsors, especially if you haven't given this year. Your name or your business name will be highlighted at all of the fora in the Envisioning the Purple Line series, as well as on our website, for one year following your donation.
Sponsorship is easy - and we are appreciative of all donations, large and small! Here's the link to get you started: Yes, I'll help Purple Line NOW!
With sincere thanks for all you do for us!
Welcome to the Second Issue of the Purple Line NOW Bi-weekly Newsletter!
After yesterday's Maryland primary, much of the focus of the news these past few weeks has been on the candidates, campaigns, and the results. We know there's a lot to read today for those tracking local news, so we will focus mainly on construction, which has been making strides since our first update.
We have been glad to hear back from our readers, particularly those nearby construction areas, and will keep working to connect community members with existing information when available or government or concessionaire officials when helpful. As ever, if you have any feedback on how we can improve the newsletter, drop us a line at [email protected].
CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW |
Manchester Place Station, Today and Tomorrow
Excavation is proceeding for the three-tenths of a mile Plymouth Street tunnel. The tunnel, necessary because of the significant hills in the area, will also serve as the location of the Manchester Place Station, allowing easy access to the Purple Line for the wide range of housing nearby.
The picture above shows the present dig site while the artist rendering below shows the planned station once the line has begun operations in 2022.
For more artist renderings, maps, and efforts to minimize disruption, see this focused briefing from 2017, and for the bigger picture see the Community Advisory Team presentation notes for Long Branch.
Work to Replace Lyttonsville Place Bridge has Begun
The 6-month closure of Lyttonsville bridge began on June 18th. As pictures show, demolition work is already underway and the concessionaire has announced that the demolition work will continue into the weekend this Saturday, June 30 from 9 am-5 pm.
Replacing the bridge is necessary to allow for the construction of the Lyttonsville Purple Line station and to allow for trains and the Capital Crescent Trail, as well as improving pedestrian access. For more pictures, see Dave Dildine's coverage at WTOP and for details about next steps and the final result, see the Community Advisory Team for Woodside/Lyttonsville.
During the construction of the replacement bridge, drivers are encouraged to use the detour pictured below to get around the closure.
Want More Construction News?
As you know, Purple Line NOW is a nonprofit advocacy organization - we are not the entity constructing the project (that would be the Purple Line Transit Partners), though we do work closely with them to keep abreast of the latest news. Our mission is to help get answers for you as questions bubble up. Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll connect you with the folks who can give you the information you need. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, you should sign up for Purple Line construction updates from MTA - you'll receive timely and location specific information for your residence or place of work.
PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS |
Next Envisioning the Purple Line Forum Announced!
The next forum is at the Park and Planning Building in Riverdale Park on Monday, July 23, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Watch your email for a special invitation coming soon - the event is free and open to the public, but you'll need to reserve your seat as space is limited to the first 100 folks. We are thrilled that the new CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners, Fred Craig, will join us as a speaker along with Prince George's County Council Chair, Dannielle Glaros, and Director of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, Gerrit Knaap. We are working on the full slate of speakers right now and will announce them soon, but do put the date on your calendar now!
PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION |
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.
Become a Sponsor
Please take a moment, especially if you haven't given this year, to become a sponsor of our Envisioning the Purple Line series. Your name or your business name will be highlighted at all of the fora in the Envisioning the Purple Line series this year, as well on our website. Sponsoring is easy - and we are appreciative of all donations, large and small. Here's the link to get you started: Yes, I'll help Purple Line NOW!
Purple Line NOW News Debuts!
Purple Line NOW News | June 13, 2018
Welcome to the Debut of the Purple Line NOW Bi-weekly Newsletter!
We’re fast approaching the 1-year anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Purple Line and you may have noticed that construction activity is beginning to pick up across the corridor. The first year of construction has largely consisted of preparatory work such as tree clearing, utility relocation, staging areas, and demolition, but you’ll begin to see more visible signs of progress and changes to the built environment starting this month.
For that reason, we’ve decided to launch a new bi-weekly newsletter to keep the community up-to-date on the latest construction news and how it will impact getting around town, as well as important events, and general Purple Line information. Going forward, you can expect a new edition of this newsletter in your inbox every other Wednesday, provided, of course, that there is news to report.
We hope you enjoy this new feature, and if you have any feedback on how we can improve the newsletter, drop us a line at [email protected].
CONSTRUCTION NEWS TO KNOW |
6-Month Closure of Lyttonsville Place Bridge
Beginning on Monday, June 18, the Lyttonsville Place bridge in Silver Spring will be closed for 6 months so the project team can construct a new and longer bridge to enable Purple Line trains and the Capital Crescent Trail to run beneath it. The new bridge will have one through lane in each direction for automobiles, as well as drop off lanes on either side of the bridge to facilitate the dropping off of passengers at the Purple Line Station. The new bridge will also include larger sidewalks for pedestrians on both sides of the bridge.
During the construction of the replacement bridge, drivers are encouraged to use the detour pictured below to get around the closure.
Excavation Work for Plymouth Street Tunnel Begins
Last Wednesday, Purple Line Transit Partners began excavation work on the Plymouth Street tunnel, which will connect Wayne Avenue to the Long Branch area of Silver Spring and house the Manchester Place station. The work will, at times, require 24-hour shifts, Monday-Friday because of the nature of mining work and to minimize noise and traffic impacts to the community; however, underground work does tend to be quieter so it is not anticipated that noise will be an issue.
The Plymouth Street tunnel is the only new tunnel being constructed for the Purple Line. The tunnel, while not particularly long at three-tenths of a mile, is one of the more challenging aspects of the Purple Line project because of the complexity of the geology, and which will likely require delicate blasting operations due to its proximity to several existing residential structures. The construction team will be implementing a number of measures to avoid causing any damage to residents’ homes.
Construction Commences at University of Maryland
Beginning on or about June 11, construction crews will begin relocating utilities under select campus roadways and sidewalks, installing and upgrading drainage systems, and removing trees and other plantings at the University of Maryland. Faculty, students and visitors will begin to see changes to vehicular traffic patterns as a result of the work.
As part of the construction on campus, the iconic M Circle will be relocated to a spot about 50 yards away from its current location. The University of Maryland recently published a video illustrating what the circle will look like in its new location.
As an aside, the College also announced that within one year of the Purple Line’s opening, it is their goal to have more trees on campus than they have today. Pretty cool, huh? This is just another ancillary benefit of the Purple Line!
Want More Construction News?
As you know, Purple Line NOW is a nonprofit advocacy organization - we are not the entity constructing the project (that would be the Purple Line Transit Partners), though we do work closely with them to keep abreast of the latest news. Our mission is to help get answers for you as questions bubble up. Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll connect you with the folks who can give you the information you need. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, you should sign up for Purple Line construction updates from MTA - you'll receive timely and location specific information for your residence or place of work.
PURPLE LINE NOW NEWS AND EVENTS |
Next Envisioning the Purple Line Forum Announced!
You are the first to know! The next forum will be at the Park and Planning Building in Riverdale Park on Monday, July 23, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Watch your email for a special invitation coming soon - the event is free and open to the public, but you'll need to reserve your seat as space is limited to the first 100 folks. We are thrilled that the new CEO of the Purple Line Transit Partners, Fred Craig, will join us as a speaker along with Prince George's County Council Chair, Dannielle Glaros. We are working on the full slate of speakers right now and will announce them soon, but do put the date on your calendar now!
PURPLE LINE NOW ACTION |
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.
Become a Sponsor
Please take a moment, especially if you haven't given this year, to become a sponsor of our Envisioning the Purple Line series. Your name or your business name will be highlighted at all of the fora in the Envisioning the Purple Line series this year, as well on our website. Sponsoring is easy - and we are appreciative of all donations, large and small. Here's the link to get you started: Yes, I'll help Purple Line NOW!
Next Forum Announced (July 2018) - Sponsors Needed!
We are planning an event in Riverdale Park for July (the date will be set soon, so watch this space!) at the Park and Planning Headquarters in Riverdale Park. More details will be sent soon, so watch your email for our invitation with the slate of speakers and how to reserve your seat.
Today, we need your help. In order for us to continue this informative series, we rely on your donations.
Your sponsorship of this signature series is an ideal opportunity to connect with project stakeholders, as well as key leaders and community organizers. If you support the Purple Line - this is a terrific way to let the community know it!
As you know, Purple Line NOW operates on a bare bones budget - and we spend every dime we raise to make sure the project is the best it can be by providing educational opportunities along with many other efforts for those communities along the Purple Line route. These efforts include testifying before local, state, and federal entities as well as providing regular information regarding the progress and any major developments through our website,Twitter, and Facebook.
Please take a moment, especially if you haven't given this year, to become a sponsor. Your name or your business name will be highlighted at all of the fora in the Envisioning the Purple Line series, as well on our website.
Sponsoring is easy - and we are appreciative of all donations, large and small. Here's the link to get you started: Yes, I'll help Purple Line NOW!
With sincere thanks for helping us keep our own train running!