Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Purple Line NOW Press Conference
Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring
As prepared
Good morning! We’re here today to encourage everyone to get on the Purple Line train!
The Purple Line has everything our Federal Administration is looking for in a project. It’s shovel-ready! As soon as we get the go-ahead, we’ll be ready to break ground shortly.
It’s the largest transportation project in the State’s history, and the nation’s second transit public-private partnership with a commitment of $500 million in private funding.
And it has already created local jobs and will create thousands more during its construction and operations.
It will also better connect workers with jobs along this transit line and open up new opportunities for many residents.
It will better link our prestigious Federal agencies, successful private-sector employers and the acclaimed University of Maryland.
Many of our Master Plans – and many private sector developments – are predicated on the Purple Line being constructed.
And of course, we can’t forget about one of our region’s worst enemies – traffic. The Purple Line will take cars off of our congested east-west roads.
Every day this project is delayed, we lose.
We lose the 25,000 permanent jobs that will be created.
Our residents lose the $2.2 billion a year in personal income that will come about once the Purple Line is up and operational.
The Washington region loses the 1% to 2.2% growth in annual economic activity.
And the Federal, State and County governments lose $635 million a year in anticipated tax revenues.
There are simply too many benefits and too much at stake for this project to be delayed any further.
We want to thank our Congressional Delegation for their work to get another $125 million for the Purple Line in the 2017 spending deal.
Due, in large part, to their efforts the U.S. Department of Transportation funding will be available for projects expected to sign a Full-Funding-Grant Agreement by September 30th.
All we need now is for the court to reinstate the Record of Decision; and we’ll ALL win!
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Release ID: 17-042
May 2; 8:30 a.m.