Public will have the opportunity to comment on the Purple Line project at Planning Board meeting
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the mandatory referrals for the Purple Line and related projects between Bethesda and Takoma Langley Crossroads at their meeting on Thursday, March 20, in the Planning Board Auditorium (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD). The Planning Board will review and take testimony related to four projects – the Purple Line, the Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, the Capital Crescent Trail, and the Silver Spring Green Trail – all of which are mandatory referrals, which means that the Board is not the final decision maker but has an opportunity to make recommendations to the appropriate agencies for consideration.
In an effort to assure compatibility with communities and businesses along the right of way, many of the recommendations concern ways to improve station access for pedestrians and bicyclists, enhance urban design along the corridor, reduce environmental impacts, mitigate impacts to parkland, and improve transitions along the Capital Crescent Trail.
A webpage features an interactive map that highlights the recommendations that the Planning Board will be considering, provides a link to the staff report on the March 20 agenda, includes individual project descriptions, and includes all of the documents submitted to the department for review.
Purple Line Projects: Planning Board Public Hearing and Discussion of Comments to Submit
Purple Line, Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, Capital Crescent Trail, Silver Spring Green Trail
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Planning Board Auditorium
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland
Sign up to testify before the Planning Board
About the Purple Line
The Purple Line is a proposed 16-mile Light Rail Transit (LRT) line with 21 stations, connecting Bethesda to New Carrollton. It will provide direct connections to the Metrorail Red Line in Bethesda and Silver Spring, the Green Line at College Park, and the Orange Line at New Carrollton. The Purple Line project will be constructed along with three other projects: the Capital Crescent Trail, the Silver Spring Green Trail, and a new entrance to the Bethesda Metrorail station. Learn more on the Maryland Transit Administration’s Purple Line webpage.
What is a Mandatory Referral?
Government agencies planning construction projects located in Montgomery County must refer their plans to the Planning Board for review, in a manner similar to that followed by private developers. However, because the Planning Board’s decision and recommendations are advisory only, an applicant may decide whether to incorporate them or not. Read more about mandatory referrals. Public projects must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations.
Purple Line Functional Plan
The Purple Line Functional Plan was adopted by the County Council in September of 2010, and includes a series of recommendations for the proposed transit line’s route, mode and stations, and for the Capital Crescent Trail and the Silver Spring Green Trail. Download the approved and adopted Purple Line Functional Plan
M-NCPPC Planning Department Staff Contact
David Anspacher, Functional Planning and Policy
david.anspacher@montgomeryplanning.org
301-495-2191
Tom Autrey, Functional Planning and Policy
thomas.autrey@montgomeryplanning.org
301-495-4533
About The Montgomery County Planning Department:
The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, aims to improve quality of life by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for current and future generations. The Planning Department creates great communities by developing master plans, reviewing applications for development and analyzing various types of information to help public officials plan for Montgomery County’s future. The Department is comprised of 140 staff members and provides recommendations, information, analysis and services to the Montgomery County Planning Board, the County Council, the County Executive, other government agencies and the general public. Visit www.montgomeryplanning.org .