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| Maryland asks Montgomery County for $13.8M more for Purple Line projects | Maryland asks Montgomery County for $13.8M more for Purple Line projects |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Maryland transportation officials are asking Montgomery County to chip in nearly $14 million in additional Purple Line costs. | |
| That’s because the cost of building elevators to connect a new light-rail line with the Bethesda Metro station -- a key element in the light-rail line plan — has doubled under a state contract recently finalized with a team of private companies. | That’s because the cost of building elevators to connect a new light-rail line with the Bethesda Metro station -- a key element in the light-rail line plan — has doubled under a state contract recently finalized with a team of private companies. |
| The additional costs add up to a net $13.8 million after other contract savings are factored in. | The additional costs add up to a net $13.8 million after other contract savings are factored in. |
| The state’s $5.6-billion Purple Line contract, which is expected to be approved by the state’s Board of Public Works in April, puts the cost of building a second entrance at the south end of the Bethesda Metro station at $113.2 million —more than double the state’s previous estimate of $55 million. | The state’s $5.6-billion Purple Line contract, which is expected to be approved by the state’s Board of Public Works in April, puts the cost of building a second entrance at the south end of the Bethesda Metro station at $113.2 million —more than double the state’s previous estimate of $55 million. |
| [Read about the private team chosen for a $5.6 billion Purple Line contract] | [Read about the private team chosen for a $5.6 billion Purple Line contract] |
| The elevators at Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street would carry passengers between the street-level Purple Line’s western terminus and Metro’s underground Red Line station. Without the new elevators, passengers transferring from one line to the other would have to walk several blocks to or from the current Metro station entrance at East-West Highway. That farther walk would reduce ridership at what is expected to be one of the Purple Line’s busiest stations, transit planners say. | The elevators at Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street would carry passengers between the street-level Purple Line’s western terminus and Metro’s underground Red Line station. Without the new elevators, passengers transferring from one line to the other would have to walk several blocks to or from the current Metro station entrance at East-West Highway. That farther walk would reduce ridership at what is expected to be one of the Purple Line’s busiest stations, transit planners say. |
| Montgomery County so far has budgeted $205 million for the state’s Purple Line concessionaire to build three county projects: the Bethesda Metro connection and two recreational trails along the Purple Line tracks. | Montgomery County so far has budgeted $205 million for the state’s Purple Line concessionaire to build three county projects: the Bethesda Metro connection and two recreational trails along the Purple Line tracks. |
| That money also includes $40 million in cash that the county has pledged toward the Purple Line’s construction. | That money also includes $40 million in cash that the county has pledged toward the Purple Line’s construction. |
| All but $13.8 million of the elevators’ additional costs would be offset by unanticipated savings on both trails, county officials say. The contract’s cost for the county to rebuild the Georgetown Branch Trail between downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring came in at $58.4 million — 39 percent below state estimates. Completing the Green Trail east of downtown Silver Spring to Sligo Creek Parkway also came in at $1.86 million less than anticipated. | All but $13.8 million of the elevators’ additional costs would be offset by unanticipated savings on both trails, county officials say. The contract’s cost for the county to rebuild the Georgetown Branch Trail between downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring came in at $58.4 million — 39 percent below state estimates. Completing the Green Trail east of downtown Silver Spring to Sligo Creek Parkway also came in at $1.86 million less than anticipated. |
| [Obama administration proposes $125 million for Purple Line] | [Obama administration proposes $125 million for Purple Line] |
| With the Purple Line’s construction at the top of the county’s transportation wish list, local officials say they’ll find the extra money, even if it means having to delay other county projects. | With the Purple Line’s construction at the top of the county’s transportation wish list, local officials say they’ll find the extra money, even if it means having to delay other county projects. |
| “We’re going to make it work, and we’re glad the project is moving ahead and the state has approved it,” said Montgomery County Council member George Leventhal (D-At Large), a longtime Purple Line advocate. “If I was going to say anything critical, I guess it’s that I wish some of the savings that the state incurred were passed on to the county.” | “We’re going to make it work, and we’re glad the project is moving ahead and the state has approved it,” said Montgomery County Council member George Leventhal (D-At Large), a longtime Purple Line advocate. “If I was going to say anything critical, I guess it’s that I wish some of the savings that the state incurred were passed on to the county.” |
| Maryland transportation officials said the overall Purple Line contract on the 36-year public-private partnership came in $550 million below state estimates. | Maryland transportation officials said the overall Purple Line contract on the 36-year public-private partnership came in $550 million below state estimates. |
| The council’s transportation committee is scheduled to consider the additional funding Thursday. The council’s deputy administrator, Glenn Orlin, suggested in a memo that the committee hold off on recommending any additional money until county staffers could discuss the changes with the state and the winning bid team in the next two weeks. | The council’s transportation committee is scheduled to consider the additional funding Thursday. The council’s deputy administrator, Glenn Orlin, suggested in a memo that the committee hold off on recommending any additional money until county staffers could discuss the changes with the state and the winning bid team in the next two weeks. |
| The 16.2-mile Purple Line would have 21 stations and run two-car trains mostly along local streets between Bethesda in Montgomery and New Carrollton in Prince George’s. | The 16.2-mile Purple Line would have 21 stations and run two-car trains mostly along local streets between Bethesda in Montgomery and New Carrollton in Prince George’s. |
| Prince George’s County officials say they’re unaware of any state requests for more Purple Line money. Prince George’s has pledged $120 million in cash and $10 million in in-kind contributions, such as land, to the line’s construction. | Prince George’s County officials say they’re unaware of any state requests for more Purple Line money. Prince George’s has pledged $120 million in cash and $10 million in in-kind contributions, such as land, to the line’s construction. |