Hogan moves forward on Purple Line (Baltimore, Silver Spring: 2015, transfer, construction)

[Mr Beco]

Maryland will move forward on Purple Line,

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Thursday that Maryland “will be moving forward” with the Purple Line, providing that Montgomery and Prince George’s counties pick up more of the cost and the light-rail line is modified to save state taxpayers money.

In a blockbuster news conference addressing practically every major transportation issue facing the state, Hogan simultaneously said he would increase spending on roads and bridges by $1.35 billion in coming years.

The governor also announced he was not going ahead with the Red Line in Baltimore, saying the projected $2.9 billion cost of that light-rail project was less economically justified than the 16-mile rail line in the Washington suburbs.

Hogan’s backing for the Purple Line marks a significant reversal for a staunch fiscal conservative who strongly opposed the project as too expensive when he campaigned for governor last year.

He said he changed his mind largely because his administration found ways to reduce the state’s share of the cost from close to $700 million to $168 million.

[CBMD]

Jeez, I'd never have known.

[johnsonkk]

Here is a link to the news story

Hogan: State to pay $168M for Purple Rail line in DC area - WTOP

The article said light rail for the purple, not a metro expansion like the silver line in Virginia. Does this mean, if built, passengers would have to switch trains if they wanted to go farther than New Carolton? Who is managing or would manage this light rail?

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

Here is a link to the news story

Hogan: State to pay $168M for Purple Rail line in DC area - WTOP

The article said light rail for the purple, not a metro expansion like the silver line in Virginia. Does this mean, if built, passengers would have to switch trains if they wanted to go farther than New Carolton? Who is managing or would manage this light rail?

Correct, it's not a metro line. Yes, riders will transfer between lines (but that's always the case, so maybe I'm not understanding the question). MTA will manage the line, on the government's end, but the construction, maintenance, and operation will be carried out by a private partner. That private partner has been narrowed to 4 companies and it's projected that those 4 final proposals will be submitted to the state within 120-150 days. The state will then decide which of the four to award the contract.

[DistrictSonic]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

Here is a link to the news story

Hogan: State to pay $168M for Purple Rail line in DC area - WTOP

The article said light rail for the purple, not a metro expansion like the silver line in Virginia. Does this mean, if built, passengers would have to switch trains if they wanted to go farther than New Carolton? Who is managing or would manage this light rail?

It is a public-private partnership, this is not a metro line, so it is run by the business contracted to manage the line. Smart trip cards may still work with it though, since the technology is available for those who wish to use it in local transportation agencies unrelated to metro.

[DistrictSonic]

Massive Corporate Support > Chevy Chase NIMBY's

This was really their chance to kill it with a receptive gov. It was pretty clear who had more influence. This has not gotten very far in court, and it is unlikely too.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Correct, it's not a metro line. Yes, riders will transfer between lines (but that's always the case, so maybe I'm not understanding the question). MTA will manage the line, on the government's end, but the construction, maintenance, and operation will be carried out by a private partner. That private partner has been narrowed to 4 companies and it's projected that those 4 final proposals will be submitted to the state within 120-150 days. The state will then decide which of the four to award the contract.

Super thanks to your reply and the one below.

For potential usage, that distance and who woud use, even if practical may not pan out. On the Virginia side, folks starting at Springfield are not likely to metro all the way to Bethesda, shady grove, etc to the end of red line. It just takes too long. It's Over an hour to make that metro haul so most that I've talked to choose to struggle with the traffic. There are just too many stops. I thought the purple was going to tie the NE side straight to downtown vs meander along the north 495 corridor. Wish there was a better solution than either adding more roads or building a multi billion light rail.

[Khemistry]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

Super thanks to your reply and the one below.

For potential usage, that distance and who woud use, even if practical may not pan out. On the Virginia side, folks starting at Springfield are not likely to metro all the way to Bethesda, shady grove, etc to the end of red line. It just takes too long. It's Over an hour to make that metro haul so most that I've talked to choose to struggle with the traffic. There are just too many stops. I thought the purple was going to tie the NE side straight to downtown vs meander along the north 495 corridor. Wish there was a better solution than either adding more roads or building a multi billion light rail.

You seem to be very confused with all things Purple Line related. The Purple Line essentially has NOTHING to do with any of the six WMATA MetroRail lines, and it's really not tied into MetroRail (nor was it ever intended to) outside of a few stations like Silver Spring and New Carrollton. This line has absolutely nothing to do with Virginia, Virginians, or easing the daily commute of Virginians, nor does it have to do with anything related to the Capital Beltway.

The Purple Line is supposed to connect the very busy southwest Montgomery County & Northwest Prince George's County area, specifically along key areas like the University of Maryland (College Park), University Blvd (Hyattsville/Adelphi, Langley Park, Silver Spring), Downtown Silver Spring, and Bethesda — which essentially includes communities like Potomac and Chevy Chase. This is an extremely busy transit corridor. The busiest metro stop that is not officially a metro station, is located at the Langley Park Crossroads which is the intersection of University Blvd & New Hampshire Ave. A transit center is currently being constructed to consolidate something like a eight or more different bus lines.

The entire Downtown Silver Spring area through to the University of MD via University Blvd is a traffic nightmare at any given time of the day, and even worse still during rush hour. So, the Purple Line needs to be built. The Purple Line corridor has a huge population density, various wealth levels, lots of infrastructure and growing, loads of businesses, and traffic galore. This line is going to benefit those people. It's not meant for the entire Washington Metropolitan Area to take advantage of.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Khemistry

You seem to be very confused with all things Purple Line related. The Purple Line essentially has NOTHING to do with any of the six WMATA MetroRail lines, and it's really not tied into MetroRail (nor was it ever intended to) outside of a few stations like Silver Spring and New Carrollton. This line has absolutely nothing to do with Virginia, Virginians, or easing the daily commute of Virginians, nor does it have to do with anything related to the Capital Beltway.

The Purple Line is supposed to connect the very busy southwest Montgomery County & Northwest Prince George's County area, specifically along key areas like the University of Maryland (College Park), University Blvd (Hyattsville/Adelphi, Langley Park, Silver Spring), Downtown Silver Spring, and Bethesda — which essentially includes communities like Potomac and Chevy Chase. This is an extremely busy transit corridor. The busiest metro stop that is not officially a metro station, is located at the Langley Park Crossroads which is the intersection of University Blvd & New Hampshire Ave. A transit center is currently being constructed to consolidate something like a eight or more different bus lines.

The entire Downtown Silver Spring area through to the University of MD via University Blvd is a traffic nightmare at any given time of the day, and even worse still during rush hour. So, the Purple Line needs to be built. The Purple Line corridor has a huge population density, various wealth levels, lots of infrastructure and growing, loads of businesses, and traffic galore. This line is going to benefit those people. It's not meant for the entire Washington Metropolitan Area to take advantage of.

There are plans on the table to eventually extend it to Tysons Corner and Dunn Loring. That's probably why he's confused. But those plans aren't funded ATM if they ever happen. Right now, the Purple Line is exclusively within Maryland.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by CBMD

Jeez, I'd never have known.

Stop googling the Kardashians and read up on the important issues