Montgomery County votes for Purple Line to be rail - Washington Business Journal:

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The 16-mile route, built as light-rail, is expectedc to cost about $1.2 Prince George’s County Councilk had already endorsedthe light-rail option. Some Chevgy Chase, Bethesda and Silver Spring residents have pushed fora rapid-bud option instead, arguing that the rail was too too noisy or too disruptive to a bike traiol or nearby houses. The line would connecft Metro’s Orange, Red and Greej lines, several Marc train and would give the rail service on State transit officials will make the decision on funding sometimde between Mayand July. Jack Calahan, spokesmanj for the , said the local consensus for rail will be factores intothe decision.
The state and federal governments are expected to share the costs of the but some of the money Montgomery County spenty years ago onbuying right-of-way will be It is too early to say if more locall contributions will be required, Calahajn said. “What you’re looking at is a huge amount of he said. The light-rail project will have to competee on the federal leve l with projects from arounfthe country, and Maryland’s statde transportation funding has been hurt by dropping revenues, the earliee projection of a possible start date -- 2012 -- is no longerd valid. “That was befored the economy went south,” Calaha said.
“It’s probably overly No new date hasbeen projected, he said. Ridership on a light-rail Purple Line is projected at 63,000 dailyt -- about 43,000 currently ride slowe r buses alongthe route.