Purple Line cost figures released

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Purple Line cost figures released

Andrew Ujifusa |

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Cost estimates for a bus rapid transit system for the Purple Line range between $386 million and $1.08 billion, while estimates for light rail are between $1.2 and $1.6 billion, according to a report from the Maryland Transit Authority.

The report also indicates a bus system would be more cost effective than light rail.

Montgomery County Planning Board spokeswoman Valerie Berton said the figures were made available to the board last week. Purple Line project manager Michael Madden said the MTA used federal guidelines to come up with the estimates.

In a statement released last week, Town of Chevy Chase officials said the numbers lend support to their argument in favor of a rapid bus route along Jones Bridge Road instead of a light rail system along the Capital Crescent Trail.

Clara Barton Parkway ramp to close Aug. 4

The westbound ramp of Clara Barton Parkway to I-495 southbound in Montgomery County will be closed beginning Aug. 4 through the early fall in order to replace a concrete bridge deck, the State Highway Administration announced Monday.

The posted detour for the ramp will be: westbound Clara Barton Parkway to the next exit at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Forrestal Road. Traffic will then make two left turns, crossing over the Clara Barton Parkway, exit back onto eastbound Clara Barton Parkway, and use the left exit to southbound I-495. Left turns at Forrestal Road will be permitted without stopping.

The SHA said the repairs include cleaning and painting the steel bridge beams and other minor repair work on the approaching roadway, as well as a new bridge deck. The total cost of the repair work is $2 million.

BRAC Committee updates community

Montgomery County’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday night to provide community updates on various transportation projects affected by BRAC.

The county’s BRAC coordinator Phil Alperson was due to give a presentation at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center on the state’s BRAC-related projects. He was also scheduled to discuss the National Naval Medical Center’s construction plans and a possible overview of the upcoming Master Plan and Transportation Management Plan, as well as proposed BRAC-related improvements to area pedestrian and bike trails.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission could hold meetings on BRAC in late August or early September. Earlier this month, the Defense Department agreed to pay for $1 million in turn-lane improvements on Rockville Pike at the North Wood Gate entrance of Navy Med as part of BRAC.