Bethesda Row after the Purple Line Opens?

[Anonymous]

What are the operational costs of additional busses/drivers over a thirty year period vs the operations/maintenance of a light rail line? Trains and trams typ last 40 years or so. Busses quite a bit less. Would more busses and bus operators be needed to approximate the capacity of a light rail line?

There are a lot of interesting questions. I’m sure someone did the research / due diligence. Probably when applying for federal funding many years ago. We’ll have a Purple Line like it or not, and improved access to the Red Line from Bethesda Row. And yes, criminal activity may or may not increase in the area near the new portal. We’ll have to wait until 2028 though because of all the delays and cost overruns. We should’ve all been enjoying it (or regretting it) by now. I do hope the sound walls aren’t too high so the passengers can enjoy the scenic views of Chevy Chase and the golf course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the operational costs of additional busses/drivers over a thirty year period vs the operations/maintenance of a light rail line? Trains and trams typ last 40 years or so. Busses quite a bit less. Would more busses and bus operators be needed to approximate the capacity of a light rail line?

There are a lot of interesting questions. I’m sure someone did the research / due diligence. Probably when applying for federal funding many years ago. We’ll have a Purple Line like it or not, and improved access to the Red Line from Bethesda Row. And yes, criminal activity may or may not increase in the area near the new portal. We’ll have to wait until 2028 though because of all the delays and cost overruns. We should’ve all been enjoying it (or regretting it) by now. I do hope the sound walls aren’t too high so the passengers can enjoy the scenic views of Chevy Chase and the golf course.

It will be nice to use and it's going to be built. However, it was a terrible financial decision. Buses are much better from a financial perspective because it is less costly to expand or reduce capacity in response to demand. The metro will cost hundreds of millions a year regardless of whether anyone actually uses it. If they expand buses and demand is insufficient to justify expanded services they can cut operations (or modify bus routes) at a relatively minimal cost. The metro route is fixed, inflexible and more costly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

If true then there must be signal priority along University. Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

If true then there must be signal priority along University. Interesting.

Not sure, you can see that the effective speed, which can be as high as 34 mph between CC and Lyttonsville, drops down to 13-19 mph on University.

It then then slows down to a crawl (8 mph) on the UMD campus with students crossing all over...

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

DP here. People on the Metro subway often read the paper (on their phones) check email etc. All that is easier to do while commuting via train vs driving.

And so long as it is safe, there are people who prefer to commute via train vs driving in traffic. Less stressful. Now if the train commute is much much longer than a car commute, that may negate the benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

DP here. People on the Metro subway often read the paper (on their phones) check email etc. All that is easier to do while commuting via train vs driving.

And so long as it is safe, there are people who prefer to commute via train vs driving in traffic. Less stressful. Now if the train commute is much much longer than a car commute, that may negate the benefits.

The Purple Line rolling stock will barely have any seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

DP here. People on the Metro subway often read the paper (on their phones) check email etc. All that is easier to do while commuting via train vs driving.

And so long as it is safe, there are people who prefer to commute via train vs driving in traffic. Less stressful. Now if the train commute is much much longer than a car commute, that may negate the benefits.

The Purple Line rolling stock will barely have any seats.

Lots of seats with cushions are what attract commuters. That’s why Metro’s new trains are keeping the large number of perpendicular cushioned seats despite pushback from transit advocates. (Addressing the advocates’ concerns however, there will be some NYC style beach seats in the new trains.)

It would be a shame if the new Purple Line light rail trams have few seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

The people who livei n apartments in downtown Bethesda are not the primary targeted demographics for the purple line. The purple line will be primarily for people who live in PG County, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, White Oak who have to travel to work over in the Bethesda area. People that can't afford to live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, but who have to work in Montgomery County. These are people who have spent hours on busses or on the Metro to go down into the city and back out the other way, or people who have to negotiate with a family member for use of a shared car. Going the other way, it is for people who live in Montgomery county, but are going to school at UMD. This will get a ton of cars off of the overly congested Beltway and East-West Highway and get those roads less crowded for those who will still commute by car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will have people congestion but with, per capital, fewer cars. Business there will thrive and there will be plenty of "eyes on the street"

OPs concerns are totally unfounded and bordering on racist.

Bordering?

[Anonymous]

The Purple Line sadly may bring the criminal predators from PG and parts east to prey on Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Purple Line sadly may bring the criminal predators from PG and parts east to prey on Bethesda.

If this is a concern, voting for politicians who are pro law and order and organizing things like neighborhood watch go a long way. Also, cameras. On homes and businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Google Map someone made of the Purple Line route. It looks like it will really benefit Univ of Md with three stops and the connection to Metro. I think the Purple Line will raise the profile of the school among prospective applicants (especially those from out of state who would marvel at the novelty of the thing). That’s what happened when the Portland Streetcar famously built the line through the plaza of Portland State University 25 years ago.

Funny how UMD initially fought the Purple Line and tried to block it, like Duke University did with their proposed light rail.

UMD is definitely going to be boosted by the PL. The main immediate benefit will be a more regular connection from the metro station than the current shuttles. But also, UMD is expanding into the Discovery Disctrict, and there's two stops there. Students, faculty, and staff will have free rides in the 5 stops around UMD, so I expect those to be heavily used (that portion will also be the slowest part of the PL due to all the students crossing the tracks, hopefully they will be safe).

And I didn't even mention the increased ease to go to, or commute from, SS and Bethesday. I fully expect the PL will become a critical part of the regional infrastructure a few short years after opening.

Commuting from Bethesda will take one hour on the Purple Line, station to station. That will not be a favored option by anyone who cares about their time.

Bethesda to the middle of UMD campus will be 35 min station to station.

Correction, 35 min to the edge of campus on Adelphi Rd, 39 to the middle of campus.

And how much time to get to Bethesda station from home? From a lot of Bethesda you can do that same trip from your house in 30 minutes.

If your point is that someone will live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, anyone that can afford that rent values their time and no one that values their time would waste it pointlessly on the Purple Line.

The people who livei n apartments in downtown Bethesda are not the primary targeted demographics for the purple line. The purple line will be primarily for people who live in PG County, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, White Oak who have to travel to work over in the Bethesda area. People that can't afford to live in an apartment in downtown Bethesda, but who have to work in Montgomery County. These are people who have spent hours on busses or on the Metro to go down into the city and back out the other way, or people who have to negotiate with a family member for use of a shared car. Going the other way, it is for people who live in Montgomery county, but are going to school at UMD. This will get a ton of cars off of the overly congested Beltway and East-West Highway and get those roads less crowded for those who will still commute by car.

There are not enough jobs in Bethesda to justify this use case.

The UMD will be a real beneficiary because the station is on campus. But when you look at travel times, the best case you can make is to consider that it will allow grad students to live in downtown Silver Spring and on the other side, lower level support workers living in PG County.