Readers weigh in on the effects of Purple Line

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006

Last week we asked readers if they could favor the concept of the Purple Line without supporting certain elements of the project and what Purple Line route they thought would best suit the affected neighborhoods. Here’s what they had to say:

Is there a realistic, well-researched study on ridership on the proposed line? Is the proposed project (bus rapid-transit or light rail) really going to do anything other than destroy neighborhoods and displace bus lines that offer more options and are more affordable? How much do we really know about light rail?

Having traveled on Baltimore’s light rail recently, I can tell you that light rail is slow. The section I traveled on had dedicated lanes and it traveled no faster than 30 mph (with average speeds reported in other cities of approximately 15 mph). It slowed at each traffic crossing, waiting for the lights, loud horn and bars to halt in each direction. The proposed Purple Line light rail will run in mixed traffic, thus slowing travel speed even further.

I’m not sure people will be willing to give up the comfort and independence of their cars to travel this slowly, to say nothing of the time added having to drive to a station and time needed to walk several blocks to reach work.

As for people who currently use mass transit to get to work: Light rail would be more expensive per ride. This is the case in Baltimore and in most cities with light-rail systems. It has also been noted that light rail will most likely eliminate and⁄or combine existing bus routes. Light rail will simply provide one ‘‘bus line” which is more expensive, slow and in many cases less flexible.

I think we need more information before moving forward — choosing a route which is the least offensive is no way to address the problem of overdevelopment and congestion. A true Purple Line would be one that is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and would be truly connected, running underground like the current Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Orange lines. Why has this option been eliminated?

Eloisa MontesThayer Avenue,Silver Spring

It is easy to support a concept of public transportation without knowing or committing to the details. This is the predicament we find ourselves in with the Purple Line. Candidate after candidate claims support of this issue as standard campaign fare.

As a resident of Thayer Avenue, I have attended the presentations given by the Maryland Transit Administration, participated in Karen Roper’s walk and read everything I can find about the Purple Line, which isn’t much.

Let’s face it, everyone supports the ‘‘idea” of the Purple Line. But, I am amazed and dismayed at the lack of detailed information available and just how under-informed the candidates are. On my walk of the Thayer and Sligo alignments, prominent candidates in attendance were befuddled at the actual layout. They had understood that it was to be underground.

While I understand that minute details are not available at this point, very soon a recommendation is to be given and an alignment chosen. Then, we deal with the details that affect people’s lives.

Living in east Silver Spring for only four years, I am aware that this divisive issue has begun to pit one street against another. This is not simply a NIMBY issue. I would like to know how many people who support public transportation as a concept and the Purple Line as a specific solution would cast their vote if the line was built on their street, in their front or back yard and resulted in a train or rapid bus passing by every 4-7 minutes every day. The devil is in the details.

One curious point eludes my understanding, and I would like to know the answer. It appears that the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce has come out in opposition to the Wayne Avenue alignment. If this line is so good for business and the community, one would assume that the chamber would be a staunch supporter. Word on the street is that the developers have other plans for Wayne Avenue and they don’t want public transportation to get in the way.

This project will change forever the fabric of our community. This does not benefit most of us in east Silver Spring because, with the light rail option, the stations are at the Silver Spring Metro and somewhere on University Boulevard.

I wish I could offer a solution that makes everyone happy. I do not envy those who are working toward this impossible goal. But, I would like to see the politicians who profess to care about communities to be more involved and better educated about what is actually going on, particularly if they are using the Purple Line in their campaign rhetoric.

Debra HaiduvenThayer Avenue,Silver Spring

I support the need for better public transportation.

Yes, we need a way to connect Bethesda to Silver Spring and points east. The Purple Line would do just that, but I cannot support a plan that would use the ‘‘cut and cover” method of construction and take property of about 60 homes by eminent domain; cut down 300 champion trees, eliminating one of the largest green spaces and migratory flyways in the downtown Silver Spring area (replanting of trees would not be allowed); increase the width of a residential street (Thayer Avenue) to four lanes; place ventilation ducts in back yards; and place an open tunnel and tracks at the bottom of a stairway behind East Silver Spring Elementary School, endangering young students.

Under one of the current alignments being considered (Silver Spring Avenue⁄Thayer Avenue), all of this would happen in just one block.

The Maryland Transit Administration continues to tell us that the Purple Line is necessary, not for our current transportation problems, but for the problems that we will face years from now. If this is really true, then the current plan is a waste of time and money as the MTA will have to go back to the drawing board years from now.

The MTA should truly and wisely plan for the future by making the Purple Line part of Metro. Put it deep underground and let it serve our neighborhoods instead of destroying them.

Anne HonnSilver Spring Avenue,Silver Spring

The author is a member of SSTOP (Silver Spring⁄Thayer Opposed to the Plan)

I’m all for progress in Montgomery County, Silver Spring and Maryland, but the issue of the Purple Line through my residential area is over the limit. I have lived here on Sligo Avenue for 40 years, grew up here, have friends and their families live here in the Sligo, Silver Spring, Thayer avenues. The Purple Line would destroy any kind of family life they have created.

I thought we were upgrading our living here in Silver Spring. I would not want to spend $500,000 to $750,000 on a home with a subway in my back yard for my kids to play with.

Colesville Road would be the route. The Purple Line would go to Four Corners then down University Boulevard. Route 29 would have the room.

I will not vote for any of these people wanting this! Let’s run it through their back yards. We need our neighborhoods like these for our families and families to come. Route 29 is the way.

William MorrowSligo Avenue,Silver Spring

Ideally, the Purple Line route should go underground. Since there appears to be limited or no federal funding, light rail is being considered.

Light rail is destructive to neighborhoods, specifically those selected in East Silver Spring where hundreds of children attend school, a diverse wildlife population thrives in Sligo Creek and the services of two large organizations supporting the needs of disabled residents support thousands of clients annually.

While I support public transportation, I would rather have it in an area where the potential to move more cars off the road, while disrupting the least amount of our children, elderly, disabled and green space⁄wildlife are impacted.

I would suggest the well-traveled corridors of Colesville and⁄or Wayne instead of a train shooting under⁄out of East Silver Spring Elementary and across Sligo Creek Park.

Anna Howle-LevineDale Drive,Silver Spring