Advisory Committee
Purple Line Functional Master Plan
The Purple Line, a proposed 16-mile light rail or rapid bus transit line, would run from Bethesda to New Carrollton and provide direct connections to Metrorail, local and inter-city bus and the MARC train. Considered an east-west route and connector for Montgomery and Prince George's counties, the Purple Line has been under study since 1992. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), which heads the Purple Line project, has set a two-year schedule to research and seek funding for the line.
Master Plan advisory committee
Representatives from civic groups, businesses, residents, environmental organizations, property owners and the general public will provide input to the county's functional master plan through a Purple Line advisory committee. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 8901 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Following a wide call for applicants, the Montgomery County Planning Board appointed a committee of 30 area residents who will help its transportation planners analyze the potential impacts of the proposed Purple Line.
While the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is leading the planning for the Purple Line, Montgomery County planners have begun an effort that will highlight the Planning Department’s recommendations for the type of transit, route and station locations in Montgomery County. Once the study, called a functional master plan, is complete, it also will amend the county’s existing master plans through which the new route will travel.
Staff expects the plan to provide a framework for the Planning Board to react quickly to the MTA’s Purple Line recommendations, which may emerge next summer.
More than 80 applicants responded to the department’s call for committee members. Planners recommended that the board include members from throughout the Purple Line area, including Bethesda/Chevy Chase, Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Staff suggested individuals who offer background in transportation, landscape architecture, mass transit and public service as well as those with a history of working with Purple Line issues. Planners also sought committee members who might be able to spread the word among broad constituencies, particularly those who may not typically involve themselves in civic outreach.
Committee meetings, which will begin with a briefing on the alternatives under review, will be open to the public.
Committee members
Bethesda/Chevy Chase
Edward Asher
Pat Baptiste
Veda Charrow
Marcy Fisher
Sue Knapp
Michael Marsh
Anne Martin
Andrew O’Hare
David Saltzman
Judy Tso
Mier Wolf
Silver Spring
Karen FitzGerald
Tony Hausner
Jonathan Jay
Caleb Kriesberg
William Mellema
Edward “Ted” Power
Chris Richardson
Karen Roper
Rob Rosenberg
Harry Sanders
Takoma Park
Eric DeVaris
Clay Harris
Byrne Kelly
Laurie Kelly
José Rodriguez
Fred Shultz
Todd Solomon
Countywide
Phil Alperson
Georgette Godwin
Peter Gray
For more information about MTA’s progress, visit www.purplelinemd.com/pages/overview.html
M-NCPPC Staff Contacts
Tom Autrey, Transportation Planning
301-495-4533
Thomas.Autrey@mncppc-mc.org
Katherine Holt, Transportation Planning
301-495-4549
Katherine.Holt@mncppc-mc.org
