Both Wheaton redevelopment and projects tied to the Purple Line will advance in the next six years of Montgomery County’s capital spending.

The county's fiscal 2013-18 capital improvement program is scheduled for formal adoption Thursday after receiving tentative approval from the nine-member county council this past week.

Citing the council's commitment to transit, Council President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda noted that the board prioritized spending for projects related to the Purple Line — a proposed $1.9 billion light rail line that would run between Bethesda and New Carrollton.

Although funded in the current capital plan, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) recommended removing about $60 million in funding for the Bethesda South Metro Entrance. The council reinstated that money and increased it to about $80 million.

The Capital Crescent Trail, a bike and walking trail parallel to the planned Purple Line route, will receive about $49.5 million.

Plans to revitalize Wheaton also will advance in the next six years.

"For starters, the council demonstrated its commitment ot the redevelopment of Wheaton, with a $66 million investment to ignite the spark of all that Wheaton has to offer," Berliner said in a written statement.

Tentative plans for Wheaton include a new 150,000-square-foot headquarters for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and a town square with green space on what is known as Parking Lot 13, near Triangle Lane.

Also included in the CIP is a new garage for Montgomery College, the North Potomac Recreation Center and funding for the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

To pay for about $32 million in additional expenditures in the plan, the county will increase its PAYGO, or cash from its operating budget that could otherwise be for agency use, to $35.5 million in fiscal 2014 and to $55.5 million per year for the remainder of the six-year plan, according to county documents.

The council capped its capital borrowing for the plan at $295 million annually.

kalexander@gazette.net