Alex Beall, Nicole Raz
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan proposed potential cuts to the Purple Line to reduce its $2.45 billion pricetag.
The governor’s office released a list of 43 possible cuts, which would decrease the cost by $210 million.
The list includes fewer elevators, shorter platforms, fewer art projects and eliminating all eco-friendly material for track beds.
While Hogan supported the new line, he also proposed cutting the state’s contributions from $700 million to $168 million. Such an action would make Montgomery and Prince George’s counties spend another $50 million each.
Ralph Bennett, president of Purple Line Now, says the suggested cuts are disappointing but manageable.
“While we’re disappointed, of course, to see the scope of the project reduced, we think that these are consistent with the governor’s intentions to claim reductions to the cost of project; we think that they can be worked out–that the project is essentially in tact.”
The Federal Transit Administration, county governments and private investors could work together to restore many of the suggested cuts, Bennett said.
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal told WMAL he’s on the same page, and the county will fight to keep some of the original plans.
For example, one of Hogan’s suggestions is to use ballasted track instead of Green Track.
“Having grass in the track is aesthetically and environmentally important,” Leventhal said. “I don’t think we want to give that up too easily.”
Leventhal added that the council does not object to everything on the list and overall the cuts look fine. The county will work with the state to make sure the project advances, he said.
The 16-mile metro line would run between Bethesda and New Carrollton.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All rights reserved. (Photo: purplelinemd.com)
