In a speech on transportation, Gov. Martin O'Malley stated that he prefers a "subway" version of the Purple Line instead of various above-ground alternatives:
The region has ‘‘one of the greatest Metro systems in the world,” he said. ‘‘But it will not continue to be the greatest if we don’t invest in our own time.”
He pledged to ‘‘advance the Purple Line,” which is envisioned as a light-rail line or a rapid transit bus line.
O’Malley said he prefers a subway system for the Purple Line, which has yet to receive federal approval. An ‘‘obsession” with above-ground lines and rapid bus service has ‘‘stymied the Red Line in Baltimore,” he said.
‘‘Can you imagine if people 30 years ago, 40 years ago, said, ‘We want a Metro system, but it has to be above ground and fast bus’?” he asked the audience. ‘‘What ... kind of region would we have?”
The interconnection between a subway version of the Purple Line and and the already existing Red Line would be much quicker and smoother. Above-ground light rail or rapid bus options would require changing lines via a bank of elevators, probably like the Jenifer St. entrance to the Friendship Heights stop. Besides being safer, it would also save all of the thousands of trees along the existing trail from destruction.
5 comments:
The Gazette got it wrong. O'Malley was talking about the Red Line in Baltimore, which he has always wanted underground. The O'Malley administration continues to study an above-ground light rail and/or a Bus Rapid Transit option for the Purple Line. It is not starting all over again with underground heavy rail.
Contrary to "Purple Line Supporter", the Gazette's article makes it perfectly clear that the Governor was referring to the DC-area transit project and not the Baltimore Red Line in his remarks. He was using the Baltimore Red Line experience as an example of what should not happen. An underground Purple Line is clearly the superior solution to the Maryland suburbs' transit needs and one that any true 'Purple Line supporter' should support. See the article at:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/051607/montnew233344_32328.shtml
Pam cites the Gazette article again but I am telling you, the Gazette got it wrong. The O'Malley Administration is not starting all over again with the Purple Line; it is continuing the work that has already been done. I hope the Governor will clarify his remarks.
I love it when my predictions come true...
omalley fulfills pledge
It can’t be underground, then it won’t stop at Chevy Chase Lake and Ben Ross and the Chevy Chase Land Company won’t make their $$$$. Build it as part of the Metro (underground) stop at the NIH/Navy Medical complex (internships for UMD students yo), and go west to Tyson’s Corner. A small deviant segment of the population is pushing this light rail idea that will be obsolete upon completion.
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