Lawton supports underground Purple Line

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007

The letter from Kathy Jentz (‘‘Why oppose Purple Line,” Jan. 10) suggests that my support of Clean Cars legislation is somehow inconsistent with my stance on the Purple Line, but I believe both positions are environmentally sound.

Over the past 20 years, I have worked with other local activists to establish and improve the Capitol Crescent Trail, including the Georgetown Branch to Silver Spring. Thousands of residents use this trail daily.

The proposal for a surface-level light rail along the trail would greatly diminish its beauty and use by clearing thousands of trees and putting hikers and bikers within a few feet of trains running on double tracks every few minutes. For this reason, last year more than 10,000 trail users petitioned elected officials for an underground connection or an alternative route, less destructive of trees and open space.

A preliminary study by the Maryland Transportation Administration reported that the light rail Purple Line would not significantly reduce traffic or benefit air quality. In fact, the higher density development that would be permitted around the Connecticut Avenue rail station would increase the number of cars on that major north-south artery.

I support the Purple Line as a Metro link, tunneled through residential neighborhoods, which will increase ridership, expand Metro’s ability to run alternate routes in emergencies, and protect the Capital Crescent Trail.

With Maryland’s increasing budget deficit, the first step to support Metro and other transportation projects is to establish a dedicated source of funds for mass transit. I will work for passage of that legislation, and I will work for a Purple Line that is consistent with preservation of the trail and sensitive to the communities through which it passes.

Jane E. Lawton, Chevy Chase

The writer, a Democrat, represents District 18 in the House of Delegates.