Traveling at up to 55 miles per hour,
the Inner Purple Line will enable commuters to bypass the
most congested section of the Beltway. It will stop at the
three largest employment centers in suburban Maryland -
Bethesda, Silver Spring, and the University of Maryland.
With code-red days increasing, foul air
threatens the health of everyone in the Washington area.
Over dependence on the automobile is the major source of
our air pollution, and more transit is the solution.
Light rail brings people to vibrant
mixed-use centers without overwhelming them with cars and
parking lots. Every stop on the Inner Purple Line will be
accessible on foot, making it possible to preserve the
livability of downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring and help
to replicate its success in Langley Park, College Park and
New Carrollton..
The Inner Purple Line supports
Maryland's technology-based economic development strategy
by linking the University of Maryland to the economic
engines of Bethesda and Silver Spring. Residents near the
Purple LIne stops will have access to all these key job
centers and their many thousands of jobs. Money
spent to build and operate the Purple Line will stay close
to home and create jobs, instead of going overseas to pay
for imported oil.
All the significant studies of the
economic impact of light rail projects on property values
show that property owners and communities view the light
rail as an amenity.. LIght rail's contribution is
demonstrated through increased property values for both
the commercial and residential property in close proximity
to the rail project.
Silver Spring and Bethesda are isolated from each other
for thousands of rollers, runners and bikers.
The most direct route crosses eight major
roadways. Three of these roadways are six-lane state
highways. In addition, there are another seven lesser
roadway crossings with stop signs. Plans for the Inner
Purple Line include a trail. The trail that comes with the
Inner Purple Line would eliminate all eight trail
crossings of major roadways. It would create a direct 4.4
mile path linking the Silver Spring Transit Center to
Bethesda. Trail users would have only one road crossing,
at a three way stop sign across a two lane residential
street (Talbot Avenue). Eight traffic lights and six stop
signs along the trail would be gone.
The trail will never get completed without the Inner
Purple Line. Bikers, runners and rollers will always be
faced with fighting traffic and losing. Our communities
will remain disconnected. There will be no alternative to
the roads.
