Scribd
Upload
24 views

Agenda Item 10: Purple Line Functional Master Plan Purpose and Outreach Strategy

The document is a letter from Patricia Baptiste to the Montgomery County Planning Board regarding the Purple Line Functional Master Plan. It expresses three main concerns: 1) The process cedes too much decision making power to the state and leaves little for the local planning board to decide; 2) There is unnecessary haste driven by the desire to obtain federal funding rather than careful planning; 3) The impact of BRAC on the Navy base has not been adequately considered as a rationale for including a route directly to the Navy hospital. It also notes that transportation staff alone are guiding the effort rather than a broader set of planners.

Uploaded by

Planning Docs
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views

Agenda Item 10: Purple Line Functional Master Plan Purpose and Outreach Strategy

The document is a letter from Patricia Baptiste to the Montgomery County Planning Board regarding the Purple Line Functional Master Plan. It expresses three main concerns: 1) The process cedes too much decision making power to the state and leaves little for the local planning board to decide; 2) There is unnecessary haste driven by the desire to obtain federal funding rather than careful planning; 3) The impact of BRAC on the Navy base has not been adequately considered as a rationale for including a route directly to the Navy hospital. It also notes that transportation staff alone are guiding the effort rather than a broader set of planners.

Uploaded by

Planning Docs
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Agenda Item 10

Purple Line Functional


Master Plan

Purpose and Outreach Strategy


Report

Montgomery County Planning Board

January 17, 2008


Today’s Agenda

• Action Items
- Approve Final Purpose & Outreach Strategy Report
- Request 90 Day Review Period For DEIS/AA

• Update Items
- Where We Are In Process
- Preliminary Ridership & Cost Estimates
- Major Issues

• Coordination & Outreach Items


- Plan Coordination
- Master Plan Advisory Group Input – Some Members Here Today
- Other Outreach Initiatives
What Is New In Report

• Updated Description of Alternatives (Examples)

- Sligo Avenue Eliminated As Alignment Alternative


- Trail On North Side of Right of Way In Bethesda
- Deep Tunnel Used Instead of Cut & Cover In East Silver Spring
- Surface Alternative Along Ripley Street Eliminated
- Surface Alignment Along Bonifant Street Included
- No Light Rail Alignment On Wayne Avenue At Georgia Avenue

• Master Plan Advisory Group Input

- Support and Concerns Documented

• Proposed 90 Day Review Period For DEIS/AA

- Normal 45 Day Period Viewed As Too Short For Project Of This Scope
- Multi-Disciplinary In-House Team Established
- Interagency Technical Staff Group Established
- Coordination With Takoma / Langley Sector Plan & Prince George’s County Master Plan of
Transportation Effort
Preliminary Ridership & Cost Estimates

Operating &
End To End Peak Ridership (Average Capital Costs (Millions
Alternative Maintenance Costs
Period Travel Time Weekday – 2030) – 2007$)
(Millions – 2007$)
Alternative 2: TSM 108 Minutes N/A $105 $8

Alternative 3: Low
73 Minutes 29,000 – 35,000 $450 - $520 $9
Investment BRT
Alternative 4: Medium
64 Minutes 38,000 – 41,000 $650 - $750 $9
Investment BRT
Alternative 5: High
57 Minutes 42,000 – 45,000 $1,170 - $1,340 $8
Investment BRT

Alternative 6: Low
59 Minutes 38,000 – 41,000 $1,160 - $1,330 $20
Investment LRT
Alternative 7: Medium
52 Minutes 42,000 – 45,000 $1,170 - $1,350 $18
Investment LRT
Alternative 8: High
46 Minutes 44,000 – 47,000 $1,580 - $1,790 $17
Investment LRT

BRT – Bus Rapid Transit


LRT – Light Rail Transit
TSM – Transportation System Management
Where We Are In The Process
Purple Line Planning Focus / Issues

• Job Access • Trail Compatibility


• Transit Dependent Areas • Traffic Impacts
• Shorter Trip Time • Neighborhood Compatibility
• Connects Lines, Trails, & • Ridership Estimates
Places • Environmental Impact
• Complements • BRAC Not Addressed
Redevelopment Initiatives • Historic Preservation
• Supports Smart Growth
MTA
DEIS/AA
Locally Preferred Alternative
• Focus Groups

Montgomery County Takoma/Langley Crossroads Prince George’s County


Functional Master Plan Sector Plan Transportation Plan
• Master Plan Advisory Committee • Stakeholders • Focus Group

Interagency Technical Group


(Staff from multiple agencies)
Relative Cost Comparison – Estimated Capital Costs

Project Terminal Points Type or Cost Per Mile $ Year


Alternative
WMATA Largo Addison Road to Heavy Rail $140.0 2004
Extension Largo Town Center
WMATA Dulles East Falls Church to Heavy Rail $178.0 2008
Extension Wiehle Avenue
Purple Line Loop Silver Spring to Heavy Rail $143.3 2002
Medical Center
Miami Metro MLK Station to Heavy Rail $144.4 2009
Extension Broward County
Line
Inner Purple Line Bethesda to Silver Light Rail $84.3 2002
Spring
Purple Line Bethesda to New Light Rail - Medium $78.8 2007
Carrollton
Corridor Cities Shady Grove to Light Rail $64.0 2007
Transitway COMSAT
January 17, 2008

To: Montgomery County Planning Board

From: Patricia Baptiste

Had today’s agenda been adhered to I would have been pleased to participate in the
discussion about the Purple Line Purpose and Needs Study for the Functional Master
Plan.

I have three points:

1. The schedule set out in the staff report cedes to the State the important decisions
about the mode, alignment and route of the transitway and leaves little for this
MPAG and you to decide. The criteria important to the State are riders and cost as
they are most interested in chasing Federal dollars and will twist the project to
maximize those aspects. You, on the other hand, are charged with different and
more important decisions such as the orderly development of the district, the
impact of the project on the urban fiber of the down-county and the impact on
established residential communities. None of these aspects will inform the State’s
decision, and little will be left for you to decide after the State has its way.

2. The only reason for the haste present today, indeed for the haste which has cast a
shadow over reasonable alternatives for the past 20+ years, is the need to chase an
illusory pot of gold at the end of a phantom rainbow. Four years ago this Board
refused to study the Purple Line Loop, promoted by WAMATA and supported for
study by some on the Board as well as the County Executive and a wide part of
the community. The refusal was based on the need for haste in getting in line for
Federal money. Similarly today, the haste is pressed by the notion that the State
needs to get in line for Federal New Start earmarks—indeed that is the only basis
on which the governor has for his budget proposal to fund engineering for the
project—but not until 2011 will significant money be allocated.

3. This Board, and the Council and likely the Executive will shortly inform the Navy
that the impact of the BRAC is staggering and beyond the capacity of the County
or State to absorb. Bigger than anything in recent memory to hit the County. Yet,
at the same time it is said that the is not enough of an impact to warrant a second
look at a proposed BRT going directly to the Navy Hospital. What will
congressional appropriators make of the County’s unwillingness even to consider
this important transit remedy for the congestion coming as a result of the base
consolidation?

4. Finally, while all of us on the MPAG greatly appreciate the work of the two staff
members assigned to this plan, some wonder why it is only transportation staff
who are guiding this effort. Where are the planners from the affected
communities, where are the county-wide planners. I have participated on many
Advisory Boards over many, many years, but I have never seen one so thinly
staffed. If this effort is a serious one, and not a deferral to State decision, please
assign additional staff to the effort.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, I regret not being able to present these
comments in person.

You might also like