46 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 5/8:
 

Purple Line advocates work to sway Gov. Hogan

 

WASHINGTON — If you think you’ve spotted Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at a pro-Purple Line event, check your vision. It’s probably the cardboard cutout the advocates at Purple Line Now are using in an effort to convince the governor that the $2.4 billion light rail project is a good investment.

 

Advocates said they will be making use of the cardboard cutout of a “virtual” Gov. Hogan in a bid to persuade the governor to give a thumbs-up to the project.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Washington, DC Post, 5/15/15:

Hogan: Price of Purple Line is ‘not acceptable’

 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Friday signaled a reluctance to accept the Purple Line rail project with its current cost estimates, adding that he expects to make a decision “in the next month sometime” about whether to move forward with the long-planned transit program.

Not looking good.

[KevinKorell]

Baltimore, MD Sun, 5/11/15:

 

 

A Hogan decision to kill Red Line or Purple Line would be highly unusual

 

 

A decision by Gov. Larry Hogan to scuttle either the Red Line or the Purple Line, the long-planned light rail projects in Baltimore and the Washington suburbs, would be highly unusual because it would involve turning down nearly $2 billion in federal funding.

 

Full story

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, posted 5/15:
 

Hogan: Price of Purple Line is ‘not acceptable’

 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Friday signaled a reluctance to accept the Purple Line rail project with its current cost estimates, adding that he expects to make a decision “in the next month sometime” about whether to move forward with the long-planned transit program.

 

Hogan said the existing price tag of $153 million per mile for the project, which would link New Carrollton with Bethesda, is “not acceptable.”

 

“Two miles of that would fund our entire school construction for the entire state,” Hogan ® said. Asked whether he has an acceptable cost in mind, Hogan said, “It would have to be dramatically lower than that.”

 

Aides to the governor insisted that he has not yet made a decision.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 5/21:
 

Gov. Hogan hears Purple Line pitch from county executives

 

WASHINGTON — It’s not over yet for the Purple Line.

 

Leaders from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties who met with Gov. Larry Hogan at the State House in Annapolis Thursday morning say they’re encouraged by his reception to their latest pitch for the $2.4 billion project.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

AP via WTOP radio, 6/25:
 

Hogan: State to pay $168M for Purple Rail line in DC area

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Republican Gov. Larry Hogan says the state will contribute $168 million to the planned Purple Line rail system in the Washington suburbs instead of nearly $700 million.

 

In an afternoon news conference to discuss transportation infrastructure, the governor says the counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s will have to put up more money for the 16-mile light-rail project. The total cost is estimated at $2.45 billion.

 

Although Hogan says investing in road projects is his top priority, he supports the Purple Line as a long-term investment in a part of the state that heavily relies on public transit and acknowledges that the project will bring businesses to the region and add jobs during construction.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, posted 6/25:
 

Hogan: Maryland will move forward on Purple Line, with counties’ help

 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® said Thursday that Maryland “will be moving forward” with the Purple Line, providing that Montgomery and Prince George’s counties pick up more of the cost and the light-rail line is modified to save state taxpayers money.

 

In a news conference addressing all three of the state’s top transportation issues, Hogan simultaneously said he would increase spending on roads and bridges by $1.35 billion in coming years.

 

The governor also announced he was not going ahead with the Red Line in Baltimore, saying the projected $2.9-billion cost of that light-rail project was less economically justified than the 16-mile rail line in the Washington suburbs.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 6/26/15:

Maryland Gov. Hogan says OK to slimmed-down Purple Line

 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced yesterday that he would allow the Maryland Transportation Department to pursue a streamlined version of the Purple Line light-rail project.

Story is here.

[KevinKorell]

Baltimore, MD Sun, 6/25/15:

Hogan says no to Red Line, yes to Purple

 

Dashing Baltimore's hopes for a long-anticipated east-west light rail line to improve its transit network, Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday that he will not build the $2.9 billion Red Line across the city.

 

"We are not opposed to public transportation. We are opposed to wasteful boondoggles," the governor said. "The Red Line as currently proposed is not the best way to bring jobs and opportunity to the city."

Article

[KevinKorell]

WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD, 6/26/15:

Hogan: State will not proceed with Red Line as it's currently designed

 

The Red Line light rail project in Baltimore will not proceed as it's currently designed, the governor announced Thursday.

More