Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Lt. Gov. Brown: Government funding probably won't cover the $2 billion-plus price tag.
Transit advocates got a mixed bag of news Thursday about the Purple Line, a proposed light rail system that would connect Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Gov. Martin O'Malley pledged $280 million from the state's gas tax hike for the project, but over the weekend Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown said the transit project would probably need private dollars going forward, WTOP.com reported. The $2.15 billion Purple Line would operate rail stations between Bethesda and New Carrolton, with connections to existing stations on the Metro rail system. Brown, who announced that he will run for governor in 2014, told the news station that he's been looking for companies to help pay for the project. State officials originally proposed a 50/50 split …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Silver Line appears on new map, but when might the Purple Line appear?
The Maryland Transit Authority has scheduled a series of five open houses to update citizens on the status of the much-discussed Purple Line, according to a Washington Post story. The Purple Line is a proposed light rail extension of the current Metro system and would run for 16 miles between Bethesda and New Carrollton, and connect with the existing Red, Orange and Green Lines. Among issues that have been discussed is how the line’s construction would be funded. A February Post article stated that for Maryland to receive federal funding, the state must demonstrate that it can pay its half ($2.15 billion) of the costs. The gas tax and public-private partnerships have been talked about as possible sources of funding, but no decisions have …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
'Get Maryland Moving' is calling on the Maryland General Assembly to fund state transportation projects.
A new coalition is advocating for dollars for state transportation projects, including the planned 16-mile Purple Line light rail that would connect Bethesda with New Carrollton, The Washington Post reports. Get Maryland Moving, a coalition of groups, including the Montgomery County and Bethesda-Chevy Chase chambers of commerce, Purple Line Now, Action Committee for Transit, and the League of Women Voters of Maryland, is pushing for state legislators to make new revenue for transportation projects a top priority this legislative session, according to the group’s website. Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach has proposed a 3-cent gas tax that would raise about $300 million for transportation …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Montgomery County officials are blasting a state transportation funding plan that calls for re-allocating money earmarked for the two projects if lawmakers can't drum up more funds.
Members of the Montgomery County Council are urging state transportation officials against delaying funding for the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway. Lawmakers in Annapolis are struggling with ways to fund state transportation projects, including the 16-mile Purple Line light rail that would connect Bethesda with New Carrollton and the upcounty bus rapid transit route. Maryland Senate president Thomas V. Mike Miller has proposed a 3 percent gas tax that would raise about $300 million for transportation projects, Patch reported. But without a funding increase, a state transportation funding plan calls for re-allocating the money earmarked for the two projects and Baltimore’s Red Line within the Maryland Transit Administration’…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
“The citizens are hurting. They can’t take any more tax increases," believes Maryland House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell, reports the Baltimore Business Journal.
Maryland House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell has called for a delay in the Purple Line and Baltimore's Red Line, saying proposed tax increases to fund the light rail projects would be too costly for taxpayers, the Baltimore Business Journal reports. In Annapolis this legislative session, lawmakers are grappling with ways to fund the Purple Line, Red Line and other transportation projects. Maryland Senate President Mike Miller has proposed a 3 percent gas tax that would raise up to $300 million for transportation, and jurisdictions would be able to tack on another 5 cents per gallon to pay for local transportation projects, Patch reported. O’Donnell, R-St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, said the Purple and Red Line projects should be put…
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Catch up on headlines this week from across Montgomery County.
A 130-year-old local grocery chain is closing up shop; a North Potomac resident nicknamed "The Turbanator" advances to the next round of American Idol; and Montgomery County councilmembers pledge to increase police presence in schools. These are just a few of the stories Patch reported this week. Get caught up on top headlines here. Magruder's Closing All Locations GAITHERSBURG—Magruder's is closing all four of its supermarkets, including Montgomery County's Gaithersburg and Rockville locations, but they may re-open under new ownership in the future. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch. Man Guilty of Running Prostitution Ring from Rockville Pike Hotel ROCKVILLE—He’s been dubbed “The Pimp on the Pike.” Now, Nahshon Kornegay, 31, of District …
Friday, January 18, 2013
Notable outcomes include passing a resolution on tighter gun restrictions, delaying funding for county transportation projects and a denied school board request for additional funding.
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Friday, January 18
The Montgomery County Council met Tuesday for its first session of 2013. Notable outcomes from the meeting include: Plans For Projects Tied To Purple Line Delayed Citing a lack of state construction funding, County Executive Ike Leggett announced Tuesday the postponement of several county projects tied to the Purple Line light rail, The Washington Examiner reported. The proposed south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station — which would allow riders to transfer between the Purple Line's Bethesda terminus and the Metro — and funding for the Capital Crescent Trail — the popular path would have to be reconstructed if the Purple Line is built — were delayed, according to the report. There is no timeframe as to when funding for the $2.5 billion…
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The state transit agency is considering elevating the Silver Spring stop on the Purple Line 80 feet in the air, the Washington Examiner reports.
Plans for a 16-mile light rail transit system running from Bethesda to New Carrollton with stops in Silver Spring are up in the air—way up in the air. The Washington Examiner reports that state transit officials proposed building the Silver Spring Transit Center station 80 feet above the MARC train tracks. The station would be enclosed in a sort of tube to counteract wind exposure, Mike Madden, manager of planning for the Purple Line with the Maryland Transit Administration, said when he unveiled the plans at a community meeting. Engineers with the state agency are exploring other options. Five Silver Spring stations are planned for the system: Silver Spring Transit Center, Silver Spring Library, Manchester Place, Long Branch and Piney …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Catch up on the top news in Montgomery County this week.
Report: Study Shows ICC Speed Limit Can Safely Increase To 60 MPH GAITHERSBURG—An engineering study of the ICC has concluded that the speed of the highway can safely be raised to 60 mph, pending an analysis of crash data. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch. Montgomery Village Man Killed In Gaithersburg Crash GAITHERSBURG—A 21-year-old Montgomery Village man was killed early Sunday in the collision of his Honda Civic and another car on Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg. Read more at Gaithersburg Patch. New Renderings Unveiled For Bethesda Purple Line Station BETHESDA -- Maryland Transit Administration officials unveiled new renderings Tuesday for the Bethesda station on the planned Purple Line. Funding for the 16-mile light rail line …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Purple Line Now wants to raise the gas tax to help replenish the fund.
The Purple Line activist group responsible for a February flash mob in Silver Spring in support of the proposed line, is calling on Maryland legislators to raise the gas tax during its July special session so that the line that will link Montgomery and Prince George's counties will be able to proceed. Purple Line Now, a nonprofit organization formed in 2002, proposed a gas tax hike to help replenish the transporation trust fund. "Maryland motorists have been getting a cheaper and cheaper ride since 1992, the last time the gas tax was raised," Purple Line Now member Ralph Bennett said. "Gas prices have fallen 60 cents since April - now is the time to add a small amount to the price of gas to fund the transit projects and roads all …
Eric S.
10:14 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
Because no regular mortal can afford a house anywhere near Bethesda, but plenty of people work in the area? Double that with the crapton of people coming in one stop away at Medical Center. The beltway is crowded enough as it is in that direction, and could use some relief. This is a way more useful East-West route than the ICC. (Apologies if this posts twice. Patch keeps eating my comments.) more ›