46 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Reader negative letter in Baltimore. MD Sun, 1/24/15:

Hogan should derail Red Line

 

It is particularly disappointing that outgoing Maryland Transportation Secretary James T. Smith Jr.'s pro-Red Line commentary ignored the most basic facts about this massive and expensive project ("Why should we pursue the Red Line?" Jan. 21). Let's look at each of Mr. Smith's points and see what the facts are.

Opinion

[KevinKorell]

Letter from former MD Transportation Secretary James Smith, 1/20/15:

Why pursue the Red Line?

 

With Gov.-elect Larry Hogan preparing to take office today and thus far offering little information on policy decisions surrounding Baltimore's Red Line, I was recently asked during a meeting of Maryland's Board of Public Works, "Why would you acquire land now for the Red Line?"

Opinion

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post "Dr. Gridlock, 2/25:

 

Hogan’s decision on light-rail Purple Line expected by mid-May

While Maryland transportation officials recently extended a major bid deadline for building a light-rail Purple Line until August, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® is expected to decide the project’s fate by mid-May, a state spokeswoman said Wednesday.

 

On Feb. 20, the Maryland Department of Transportation agreed to the four bidders’ request for 60 days to propose “innovative” cost-cutting measures on the planned 16-mile rail line between Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, said MDOT spokeswoman Erin Henson. The line is now estimated to cost $2.45 billion to build and $55 million annually to operate and maintain — costs that Hogan has called too expensive.

 

Hogan is then expected to review the bidders’ cost-cutting proposals, along with a state analysis of the project’s design and costs, and decide by mid-May whether to continue the project, Henson said.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, posted 3/2:
 

Rahn wins Md. Senate committee vote to lead transportation department

 

A Maryland Senate committee unanimously agreed Monday to approve Gov. Larry Hogan’s nominee for transportation secretary, a week after delaying the vote over questions surrounding the future of the state’s light-rail projects.

 

Pete K. Rahn, the former head of transportation in Missouri and New Mexico, was grilled before the vote on Monday, and at his last appearance before the panel, about his commitment to the Purple Line and the Red Line and his overall philosophy on transportation.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 3/20:
 

Purple Line review begins, project remains in limbo

 

BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland’s new transportation secretary says the cost of the Purple Line must come down, but he isn’t making any promises regarding the future of the proposed light rail line that would serve Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

 

“Right now at $2.4 billion, the Purple Line is too expensive. It just consumes too much of our transit budget. So we’ve got to reduce those costs to a reasonable level to make it affordable for Maryland,” Secretary Peter Rahn says in an interview with WTOP.

 

For the next two months, four teams will work with the state to find ways to reduce the 21-station project’s costs. Rahn told the private firms that everything is on the table except for the route and the light rail component. Changes under consideration could mean less frequent service, fewer cars, adjusting the opening and closing time and eliminating weekend service.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 3/23:

 

Local officials optimistic for Purple Line, wary of project cuts

LAUREL, Md. – Elected officials from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are worried the Hogan administrations plans to reduce the cost of the Purple Line would cut too deep.

 

Montgomery and Prince George’s county council members met in Laurel Monday morning to discuss bi-county issues with the Maryland Transit Administration, Metro and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

 

The big issue heading into the meeting was the status of the Purple Line, the east-west light rail line that would connect Bethesda and New Carrollton. Governor Hogan’s administration said last week that it is looking for ways to cut the projects’ $2.4 billion price tag with the intention of building a sufficient and effective line.

 

The council members understand the desire to trim expenses, but they are concerned what those cost reductions would mean for the commuters and the communities along the line’s route.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Washington, DC Business Journal, 3/25/15:

 

Former Lockheed CEO endorses building Md. Purple Line

 

 

The former CEO of Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin, Norman Augustine, a powerful business advocate in Maryland, told Gov. Larry Hogan this week the state should build the $2.4 billion, 16-mile Purple Line, BethesdaNow reports.

Story

[KevinKorell]

Editorial in Baltimore, MD Sun, 3/20/15:

 

Derailing Maryland light rail

 

With hundreds of millions of dollars already invested in the Red and Purple rail line transit projects, and strong support for them displayed not only by local governments but from business leaders, there is a growing suspicion that Gov. Larry Hogan may ultimately keep Maryland's two light rail projects on track. The question is, at what cost?

 

Entire editorial

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, posted 5/4/15:
 

Md. lawmakers urge Gov. Hogan to approve Purple, Red light-rail lines

 

About 60 Maryland state lawmakers sent a joint letter to Gov. Larry Hogan ® on Friday urging him to build the Purple Line and Red Line, two transit projects under review by state transportation officials.

 

The legislators from Baltimore City and Prince George’s, Montgomery and Baltimore counties said the Purple Line, a 16-mile light-rail line that would run between New Carrollton and Bethesda, and the Red Line, a 14-mile light-rail system from East Baltimore to Woodlawn in Baltimore County, are essential to Hogan’s goal of bringing jobs and businesses to the state.

 

“We share your goals of growing Maryland’s economy and making its business climate more competitive,” the letter reads. “We believe that moving forward with construction on the Red and Purple lines is critical in achieving those aims.”

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, 5/6:
 

Purple Line supporters tout more jobs, economic growth as decision looms

 

Advocates for building light-rail lines in the Washington suburbs and Baltimore issued another study Tuesday predicting that the transit lines’ long-term job and economic benefits would far outweigh their construction and operating costs.

 

The analysis, sponsored by Transportation for America, is the latest released by the projects’ supporters as part of an increasingly vocal appeal to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s business sensibilities as he considers the future of both rail proposals.

 

Continue here.