At a Crossroads Over the Purple Line

The Maryland Department of Transportation is studying where to place the 14-mile Bi-County Transitway, often called the Purple Line, and whether it should be a light-rail or rapid-bus system. It has become an important question for Maryland voters.

Dear Dr. Gridlock:

I lived in Montgomery County for several years and later moved into the District. When I was making the move to California, people were instantly critical of the lack of public transportation -- how it causes hours lost in traffic every week, pollutes the air and supports sprawl.

I appreciated the concern, but the reality is that traffic in and around the District is just as bad as, and in some places much worse than, Southern California's. Without major additions to Metro, the area will slowly grind to a halt. Southern California has proved that more pavement for highways does not ease congestion.

Building more highways, such as the intercounty connector, promotes nothing more than our traditional bad habits.

I know it is hard for the politicians to turn away all of those dollars from developers, automakers and oil giants. But for the sake of the region's overall future, I hope that a few of them can find the courage to leave the highway behind. America is stuck in a rut, and the Purple Line is a prime example of great ideas going to waste, getting lost in time and bureaucracy.

Maxwell Hessman

Los Angeles

The Silver Spring neighborhoods affected by the proposed Purple Line alignments are deeply divided on support for the project, largely because the Maryland Transit Administration has not been forthcoming with sufficient information about the possible effects on traffic, the environment and homes.

Our Park Hills neighborhood, for example, is concerned about the effect of the Bi-County Transitway on Sligo Creek Park, which is adversely affected by all of the proposed alignments in Silver Spring.

Alan Bowser

President, Park Hills Civic Association