Riverdale Area Residents Voice Concerns About Purple Line

The Purple Line project is years away from coming into fruition, yet representatives from the Metropolitan Transit Authority presented information Saturday at St. Bernard's parish to about 70 area residents. The event was sponsored by the Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization Community Development Corporation (CKAR).

They don’t know how they’ll get the money for the project or exactly how it may impact residents yet, but representatives from the met Saturday  as a part of the community outreach campaign to hear local input on design and engineering

Purple Line Communications Director Marsha Kaiser discussed the proposed $1.6 million light rail system with a proposed completion by 2016 to a room of about 70 people, including Riverdale Park residents, town representatives, civic association members and State Sen. Paul Pinksy (D-Prince George’s).

“We’re not looking at this as just a transit project, we want it to fit into your community,” Kaiser said.

The Purple Line will run as a double track into Bethesda from New Carrollton, and its construction will coincide with efforts to keep popular walking and biking routes on Georgetown Branch trails adjacent to the track.

Construction plans are under heavy scrutiny for reasons other than its proximity to the trail; so the $1.5 billion project may take longer to get off the ground as there are issues with actual construction.

Although Kaiser said the team will work to listen to everyone’s concerns, she said not everyone may be happy with the end result.

Nearly 14 miles of the rail line will run at ground level along current roads, however, two miles will run along an aerial structure in Riverdale Park and a portion under a mile will run underground. Kaiser said the project would attract 60,000 riders a day, taking 18,000 cars off the road.

Homeowners were concerned about how the line would have an impact on their properties. Others were concerns about how businesses would be maintained or if they would be relocated. Still others, were worried about the environmental impact.

Meghan Powell, an engineer with Jacobs Engineering that consults for the MTA, walked attendees through the plan from where the line hits River Road past the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on Riverdale Road.

Powell said the rail would only run as fast as the posted speed limit along its route and in special cases like in College Park, where it’s pedestrian-heavy, the car would run slower.

The two-car train could hold up to 100 people per car and could run from New Carrollton to Bethesda in 55 minutes.

However, Powell’s announcement of some initial plans including the closing of some roads like Quintana Street and a wall-like structure placed from about Quintana Street to East-West Highway and Kenilworth Avenue to help raise the track over the busy intersection, raised eyebrows in the crowd.

Dannielle Glaros, chief of staff for County Councilman Eric Olson (District 3), quelled some concerns by explaining how the county office and the MTA have worked closely together to address any possible issues. Glaros also added that the plans will still be adjusted as the Purple Line Team meet with property owners and businesses.

She added that although this project is competing with another light rail project in Baltimore for both state and federal funds, if proposed correctly and cost-efficiently, the Purple Line could easily receive funding.

Powell added that although they don’t want to impact the businesses, it may happen because the State Highway Administration is also working to expand Kenilworth Avenue because of the M-Square development.

Sen. Paul Pinsky also spoke to assure residents their concerns would be heard, but that this project would be beneficial for an area that will see development and creation of jobs in the next decade.

Riverdale Park Resident Bruce Wernek said he was concerned about the retaining walls. Wernek believed the walls may drop the value of homes along the intersection. He asked the MTA to reconsider leaving the light rail along the road even at a busy intersection.

The group said they would continue to meet with affected homeowners and businesses and would return to present information if requested by the community.

Residents were told to contact Michael Madden, project manager with the MTA by writing to 6 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, Md. 21202. They can also call Madden at 410-767-3894 or e-mail him at mmadden@mta.maryland.gov.

More information about the project can be found at their website.