I guess I can start this thread now.


Md. Road Projects Lose Out To Purple Line as Costs Rise

By Katherine Shaver
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Maryland transportation officials plan to build a Purple Line using money now envisioned for two major road projects in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and the proposed rail line's estimated construction costs have climbed to $1.68 billion -- a $330 million increase from the most recently publicized projections.

One of the road projects would have widened 10 miles of Routes 28 and 198 between Georgia Avenue and Interstate 95 through northern Silver Spring and Burtonsville. The other would have widened about three miles of Robert Crain Highway (Route 3) between U.S. 50 and the Anne Arundel County line, according to state documents submitted to the region's Transportation Planning Board. Both projects were years away from construction.

Maryland officials laid out their Purple Line plans -- particularly how they intend to pay for the line -- as part of the pitch they will make before the regional planning board today requesting that the project be included in its 20-year funding plan. Such a step is required for any project that relies on federal money. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is expected to begin seeking federal construction money for a Purple Line this summer or fall.

State documents submitted to the Transportation Planning Board, which is an arm of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, refer to a Purple Line solely as a light-rail line, signaling that the state is no longer considering a bus rapid-transit option. A 16-mile light-rail line, which is akin to a trolley line, would run mostly aboveground inside the Capital Beltway, between Bethesda and New Carrollton. It would have 21 stations and handle an estimated 62,600 trips daily by 2030, state officials have said.

Cutting these two road projects from the region's transportation plan would free up $536 million for a Purple Line, state officials said. Although the state has money to continue planning, the road projects could not be built unless they were reinserted into the regional plan. Both were scheduled to be built by 2020 but probably would have been pushed back because they were low on their counties' priority lists, officials said.

"It shows the higher priority of the Purple Line, but these projects were not likely to be built for a number of years anyway," said David Buck, a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration.

The higher price tag resulted from federal rules that require cost estimates in regional plans to account for inflation by reflecting the years in which the money would be spent, state officials said. The previously publicized cost estimate of $1.35 billion was in 2007 dollars. The $1.68 billion estimate is based on construction starting in 2014 and the line opening in 2017.

Dollar figures included in the Washington region's 20-year transportation plan, which is known as the Constrained Long Range Plan, are based on what states "reasonably expect to have available" for certain projects over the next two decades, said Donald A. Halligan, director of planning and capital programming for the Maryland Department of Transportation.

In addition to the $536 million freed up from the two road projects, $500 million for the Purple Line would come from the state's transportation trust fund, Halligan said. The regional plan already includes another $480 million in state and federal money for a transit link between Bethesda and Silver Spring, which has been incorporated into the Purple Line.

Montgomery officials said the need to widen Routes 28 and 198 became less critical after the state began building the six-lane Intercounty Connector, which will carry east-west traffic in the same area.

"The bottom line is this is all an extremely academic process because there's no money for anything," said Montgomery council member Nancy Floreen (D-At Large), who chairs the council's transportation committee.

Get that baby built! Though I wish the potential start of construction wasn't still five years away. I was hoping construction would start by 2012.

(btw, here's a link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903557.html) to the article you posted above)

I hate sign's that read "no train on wayne"!!!!!!:bash:

Well, I drive on Wayne every day while going to/from work and I can definitely understand their concerns about it. I mean, if I owned a house on a main street (in a residential neighborhood) I wouldn't want a light rail going in front of me like that.

Transit Authority opposes Purple Line tunnel (http://www.gazette.net/stories/05202009/silvnew181855_32536.shtml)

Study says the proposal would not be cost-effective
by Jason Tomassini | Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A Maryland Transit Authority study recommended against building a tunnel beneath Wayne Avenue between the Silver Spring Transit Center and Mansfield Road in Silver Spring as part of the Purple Line, claiming the tunnel is not cost-effective.

The MTA and Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) are considering three options for a 16-mile mass transit route that would connect downtown Bethesda to New Carrollton via Silver Spring.

All three options would include a tunnel east of Manchester Road under Plymouth Street, emerging on Arliss Street. The high-investment option also would include a tunnel from the Silver Spring Transit Center that would emerge at Wayne Avenue east of Cedar Street.

The MTA studied a tunnel option that would extend the tunnel beneath Wayne and downtown Silver Spring to Mansfield Road. A short, street-level rail line on Wayne would then connect to the tunnel near Manchester.

For the Silver Spring portion of the Purple Line, the medium-investment option would cost $179 million, the high-investment option would cost $296 million and the tunnel option would cost $352 million, according to the study.

A tunnel beneath Wayne would decrease travel times, but it would not include stations on Dale Drive or the future site of the Silver Spring Library at Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street, leaving about a 1.5-mile stretch without access to the Purple Line, according to the MTA study.

The study estimates the tunnel option would draw about 15,000 passengers in Silver Spring, slightly fewer than the medium- and high-investment options, which include more stations. The tunnel option would place stations at the transit center and Manchester Place only.

The tunnel would also require the displacement of residents at three or four properties on Wayne.

Residents in the Seven Oaks and Evanswood and Park Hills neighborhoods of Silver Spring asked the MTA to study a tunnel as early as 2006 because they were concerned a street-level line would have adverse effects on the neighborhood. The County Council asked the MTA to study a tunnel earlier this year.

Mark Gabriele, president of SOECA, called the tunnel analysis a "failure." He said SOECA wanted a study of the tunnel as a design option for the medium-investment light-rail alternative. Medium-investment light-rail has been endorsed by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and the Planning Board.

Instead it is unclear whether the study examined a tunnel by itself or a tunnel with high-investment light-rail, Gabriele said.

"Everywhere that they could make an assumption that would clear up things against the tunnel, they made that assumption," Gabriele said.

The tunnel analysis will be presented at a community meeting 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Oak View Elementary School, 400 East Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring.

Well, I drive on Wayne every day while going to/from work and I can definitely understand their concerns about it. I mean, if I owned a house on a main street (in a residential neighborhood) I wouldn't want a light rail going in front of me like that.

I don't think the rail is going to run above ground in that vicinity.

Well, I drive on Wayne every day while going to/from work and I can definitely understand their concerns about it. I mean, if I owned a house on a main street (in a residential neighborhood) I wouldn't want a light rail going in front of me like that.

Well you are part of the problem. These people (and you) don't seem to realize that modern light-rail cars make very little noise. They roll along extremely tight routes on perfectly aligned tracks and have no internal combustion engine since they run on electricity. They make so little noise that they are actually quieter than buses, which rumble through the neighborhood, spewing exhaust fumes and revving their engines.

I don't think the rail is going to run above ground in that vicinity.

Yes, it is. However, see my comment above to see how ridiculous these people are. I personally would rather a quiet electric trolley car run through my neighborhood than the buses.

Yes, it is. However, see my comment above to see how ridiculous these people are. I personally would rather a quiet electric trolley car run through my neighborhood than the buses.

I think people are more concerned about resale value than quality of life. Will there be wires hanging in front of their houses? Or will there be a third rail? Yes. Buses are just as loud. But a rail car I'm sure won't make thing any quieter.

Well you are part of the problem. These people (and you) don't seem to realize that modern light-rail cars make very little noise. They roll along extremely tight routes on perfectly aligned tracks and have no internal combustion engine since they run on electricity. They make so little noise that they are actually quieter than buses, which rumble through the neighborhood, spewing exhaust fumes and revving their engines.

You don't need to get so defensive about it, sheesh.

I think people are more concerned about resale value than quality of life.
That's what I was thinking about. Who cares if they make noise or not? Having a rail line right in front of your house (on your street no less!!) is going to reduce the value of your house. While having a transit stop near your property will increase the value, having the actual line itself right in front of your property may reduce it more.

You don't need to get so defensive about it, sheesh.


That's what I was thinking about. Who cares if they make noise or not? Having a rail line right in front of your house (on your street no less!!) is going to reduce the value of your house. While having a transit stop near your property will increase the value, having the actual line itself right in front of your property may reduce it more.


Probably not. In all likelyhood your property value will skyrocket even with the line near you. The catenary wires will blend in well, and be almost impossible to spot in the fabric of the street. We're not talking Baltimore's Howard St. here, but modern light rail tech. It will be one hard to see wire.

The traffic reduction on the streets near you due to commuters using the Purple Line can only help your property value as well.

I am glad this project is going to happen. It is a shame the Purple Line couldn't have been full metro though.

Council urges county start for Purple Line
Decision could come this summer
by Daniel Valentine | Staff Writer

The Prince George's County Council last week urged state officials to get going on their end of the long-planned and controversial Purple Line.

In a letter to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and top transportation officials approved June 16, council members said getting the major new 16-mile light-rail route from Bethesda to New Carrollton should be made a priority.

"The council also supports, upon receiving federal funding approval, that you will consider start of construction on the Purple Line in Prince George's County first," the letter states.

Depending on its final route and whether the line will use trains or buses, it will cost up to $1.6 billion to build.

Though the letter essentially restates the council's longstanding support for the project, it also illustrates the impatience in Prince George's County over the still to be built transit line, which has been subject of intense public input in Montgomery County.

"The Montgomery County side has been arguing for years and can't seem to make up its mind," said Councilman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, chairman of the council committee that drafted the letter. "Prince George's has been left waiting."

Dernoga said local delegates had requested another letter supporting the project as the state considers action this summer to include it in long-range plans and seek federal funding.

Montgomery County Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown declined to comment about the letter, saying he had not heard of it.

In addition to the current line connecting the northern suburbs, the county also supports extending the Purple Line south from New Carrollton down to the National Harbor development at the Potomac River over the next two decades.

"A full Purple Line segment in Prince George's County is vitally important to revitalizing our older, established communities, it is critical to easing traffic, linking employment centers and connecting spokes of the Metrorail system," according to the letter.

The Purple Line has been considered a missing link in the area public transit system for years. In recent years, debate has focused on everything from where the routes should run to whether travelers should be carried by bus or train.

Officials for both counties now favor light rail for the line. O'Malley is expected to decide how to proceed this summer, and it is believed that he will support a light rail format based on the positions of the two counties.

In their letter to O'Malley, county officials emphasized their longtime support for the transit line. The current council's first resolution when it took office in 2003 was to support the Purple Line, they noted.

"We hope it will be as accelerated as quickly as possible so that working people, students, seniors and residents throughout the metropolitan area who have been waiting for transportation relief will receive it," the letter concludes.

State Transportation spokesman Jack Cahalan said that the line could carry as many as 62,000 riders a day by 2030.

"It's clearly an important priority for both Prince George's and Montgomery," he said. "This letter reflects that position."

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.

Things are getting closer to reality for the purple line. Projected complete date is 2016. I imagine some portions will be done before then. Also, I did know know the ICC was so close to being completed. Complete date is scheduled for fall of 2011. That's major. Can you imagine the northern arm of 495 being traffic free? Wow.

seriously how much would tunneling cost to satisfy the chevy chase denizens?

I can't wait for this project to start, I am still wondering if it is going to run under my complex or over it :)

We need this ASAP

seriously how much would tunneling cost to satisfy the chevy chase denizens?

Too much for this economy. The Purple Line is going through that part of Chevy Chase no matter what the neighbors want. They've known this was going to happen since the 1980's and they had their chance to leave and sell to people who don't care.

Things are getting closer to reality for the purple line. Projected complete date is 2016. I imagine some portions will be done before then. Also, I did know know the ICC was so close to being completed. Complete date is scheduled for fall of 2011. That's major. Can you imagine the northern arm of 495 being traffic free? Wow.please explain something to me.......

why in the world does MoCo & P.G. need not one, but two expensive projects flowing through both counties? (ICC & purple line). that's a shitload of money that could be used in other parts of the state. i wouldn't say that i'm biased about the whole purple line thing, but i'm someone who would like to a better understanding of the whole thing.

please explain something to me.......

why in the world does MoCo & P.G. need not one, but two expensive projects flowing through both counties? (ICC & purple line). that's a shitload of money that could be used in other parts of the state. i wouldn't say that i'm biased about the whole purple line thing, but i'm someone who would like to a better understanding of the whole thing.

From what I can tell, there are hundreds of people in P.G. who travel to work in Montgomery County. Right now, the only way to get there is via the beltway and I believe another rural road up there near Columbia. Not sure. So, to alleviate the traffic on 495 and that rural road, they built the ICC. For those workers who may not have access to private transportation, the Purple Line will be created. Also, the purple line will be heavily used by U of MD students and faculty who may live in Montgomery County. A good result will be that it takes more cars off the road in that part of the area. Mass transit is good in any case. The International Crossroads in Langley is used heavily by Hispanics for public transportation. They are tying in the Purple Line to a new transit hub there to take the load off of some of the buses on those lines. Not to mention the development it will spur along the line.

From what I can tell, there are hundreds of people in P.G. who travel to work in Montgomery County. Right now, the only way to get there is via the beltway and I believe another rural road up there near Columbia. Not sure. So, to alleviate the traffic on 495 and that rural road, they built the ICC. For those workers who may not have access to private transportation, the Purple Line will be created. Also, the purple line will be heavily used by U of MD students and faculty who may live in Montgomery County. A good result will be that it takes more cars off the road in that part of the area. Mass transit is good in any case. The International Crossroads in Langley is used heavily by Hispanics for public transportation. They are tying in the Purple Line to a new transit hub there to take the load off of some of the buses on those lines. Not to mention the development it will spur along the line.Great job with this! You really made some great points. The BOTTOM LINE is yes, we need the Purple Line just as much as we need the Red Line, if not more.

:applause:

thanks, adelphi!!:okay:

Is there a map of the purple line I could see? And just how long will it be? 20 miles? More? Less? Just curious.

how about extending it to west falls church int he future? can we get a potomac crossing?

^^won't happen for atleast another 5 years. extending only 2 counties was a hell of a stretch money-wise.

Is there a map of the purple line I could see? And just how long will it be? 20 miles? More? Less? Just curious.

I don't think they know where the stations will be. For instance, they don't know how they will run the station at the University of Maryland. They still have a while to go. PG is all set for this to happen. I'll be moving to New Carrollton in the next few days. It will be interesting to see how they do this.

^^ :( Boy. I was really wanting to see some type of tangible masterplan.

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/05/31/GR2007053101451.gif

^^ Awesome! Thanks! :yes: :)

From what I can tell, there are hundreds of people in P.G. who travel to work in Montgomery County. Right now, the only way to get there is via the beltway and I believe another rural road up there near Columbia. Not sure. So, to alleviate the traffic on 495 and that rural road, they built the ICC. For those workers who may not have access to private transportation, the Purple Line will be created. Also, the purple line will be heavily used by U of MD students and faculty who may live in Montgomery County. A good result will be that it takes more cars off the road in that part of the area. Mass transit is good in any case. The International Crossroads in Langley is used heavily by Hispanics for public transportation. They are tying in the Purple Line to a new transit hub there to take the load off of some of the buses on those lines. Not to mention the development it will spur along the line.

The main purpose of the ICC (to my understanding) is to behave as a shortcut for people commuting between Baltimore (and other places along the 95 corridor) and Montgomery County (specifically the tech corridor around 270 in Gaithersburg and Rockville) for work. Right now they have to go down 95 and either get stuck in traffic on the beltway, or they have to cut across the suburbs on east/west routes (which are indirect routes and often get clogged with traffic trying to cut across the suburbs)

I didn't know it was going through medical center.

^^ It's not going through the Medical Center. The map posted above indicates the two possible routes for the purle line: from downtown Bethesda via Capital Crescent Trail or from the Medical Center via Jones Bridge Road. The route via the Capital Crescent Trail is the option that's been choosen.

Here's what was posted on BeyondDC (click here (http://www.purplelinemd.com/images/stories/purpleline_documents/lpa/purple_line_lpa_map_20090804.pdf) for larger PDF version):
http://beyonddc.com/log/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lrtlpa-purple.jpg

Does anybody know what happens to the Capital Crescent Trail when the Purple Line comes through. I know supporters were vehemently against the rail line. I agree with them that they shouldn't have to eliminate the trail in order to get a rail line.

Did ever come up with a way to maintain the trail, while putting in the rail line?

Can't just build a bridge or tunnel underneath the rail alignment?

Does anybody know what happens to the Capital Crescent Trail when the Purple Line comes through. I know supporters were vehemently against the rail line. I agree with them that they shouldn't have to eliminate the trail in order to get a rail line.

Did ever come up with a way to maintain the trail, while putting in the rail line?

Can't just build a bridge or tunnel underneath the rail alignment?

The trail won't be lost. It will coexist alongside the rail line. And in fact, the Capital Crescent Trail is only in existence today because decades ago people had the foresight to preserve the right-of-way for a future rail line. It was only turned into a running/biking/walking trail for use until the rail line could be built.