Prince George’s and the Post back light rail Purple Line

Transit

Prince George’s and the Post back light rail Purple Line

by Cavan Wilk • November 17, 2008 8:28 am

On Saturday, the first Purple Line DEIS hearing took place in New Carrolton. Every elected official in attendance spoke in favor of the light rail Purple Line. Of the first 30 speakers from the general public, 27 spoke specifically for a light rail Purple Line. Only one person spoke in favor of the Jones Bridge bus option.

The Washington Post Editorial Board endorsed the light rail Purple Line on Sunday, too. The editorial summarizes the fundamental advantages of Light Rail over "Bus Rapid Transit":

The report does conclude that bus rapid transit is more cost-effective than light rail. But those numbers are based on estimates through 2030. Light rail requires a bigger capital investment initially but is sturdier and, in many cases, more cost-effective in the long run. If Metro, which has operated for more than 30 years, is any indication, the Purple Line is likely to operate far beyond 2030. Light rail also provides more flexibility in the probable event that ridership exceeds estimates — just add more rail cars. Even critics of light rail acknowledge that the trains will be significantly faster than buses.

The editorial then opines on the important political outlook for the light rail option:

The current fiscal crisis shouldn't limit the project's ambitions nor sway the state to support an option that is less effective in the long term. If the state decides to support light rail, we're confident that local leaders who have been cautious in their support of light rail, including Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), will use their considerable influence to champion the project.

Throughout their study, the MTA Maryland had to follow stingy FTA metrics to keep Purple Line eligible for federal funding. They project 68,000 riders per day for the High Investment Light Rail option. Note that there are no BRT lines operating in the United States that carry 68,000 riders per day. I also think it's safe to say that the ridership will be greater than the projections before 2030.

The next meeting is in Chevy Chase (source of much of the Purple Line opposition) on Tuesday. Here's the complete list of hearings.

4 comments — Share	— tags: Maryland, Prince George's, Purple Line

Tell Maryland MTA you support the light rail Purple Line (Dec 12, 2008)
Buses and BRT: some facts (Dec 9, 2008)
Residents support the Purple Line at Bethesda/Chevy Chase hearing (Nov 19, 2008)
Register NOW to testify for the Purple Line (Nov 3, 2008)
The Purple Line is cost effective and a great idea, too (Oct 27, 2008)

Comments

Maryland readers should be sure to submit their own comments on the EIS. This is the key decision point on the Purple Line. Be sure to express a preference between light rail and bus, and say whatever else you want.

Easiest way to comment is at this website:

http://pcms.company39.com/bicounty/pcms_public/comment.aspx

by Ben Ross on Nov 17, 2008 8:34 am

Obama's administration should make this a reality. Arlington county was at just such a moment 30 years ago, when they decided to plan their future around the several tightly spaced metro stops being proposed at the time, and look at Arlington now...gives Northern Virginia a good name.

by Thayer-D on Nov 17, 2008 9:50 am

i looked at the eis - as far as i can tell, it's just words on a page. does it actually say anything useful?

there are tables with lots of numbers, but no graphs. no recommendations. nothing.

what's the point?

by Peter on Nov 17, 2008 5:51 pm

The EIS is not supposed to make recommendations. The purpose of the EIS is to document all the potential impacts of the various alternatives. Hence why there's maps and tables and lots of numbers.

by Froggie on Nov 17, 2008 9:24 pm