Business groups urge Hogan to back Purple Line

The Montgomery and Prince George’s counties chambers of commerce are urging Gov.-elect Larry Hogan to keep the proposed Purple Line light rail route on schedule because it will be an economic development tool.

The letter, dated Dec. 23, comes about a month after deadlines to bid on the $2.45 billion line that will connect Bethesda in Montgomery County with New Carrollton in Prince George’s County were delayed by at least 30 days to accommodate Hogan’s swearing in. The incoming governor has raised concerns about using a gas tax increase, 20 cents once phased in, to pay for building the line, and he has expressed a preference for building roads instead of mass transit projects.

“You have the opportunity to shape the destiny of the Purple Line and therefore the role Maryland will play in the region and the global marketplace for generations to come. Our full potential will only be reached through bold vision and courageous decisions to support access to opportunity today and into the future,” according to the letter signed by Georgette ‘Gigi’ Godwin and David Harrington, presidents and CEOs of the Montgomery and Prince George’s chambers.

The original timeline set about a year ago required companies to submit completed proposals for the 16-mile line by Jan. 9. Construction on the project was expected to begin in 2015.

The chambers, which advocate for the business interests and economic development in their counties, represent key Hogan constituencies. Hogan, the second Republican governor of Maryland since 1966, campaigned on promoting economic development and improving Maryland’s business climate.

The top reason listed in the letter for the completion of the Purple Line is that failing to do so could handicap the state’s chances of being selected to be the site of the new FBI headquarters. Currently, two sites, Greenbelt and Landover in Prince George’s County, are competing with Springfield, Virginia, to host the replacement building for the outdated The J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C.

“Access to transit is a criterion used in evaluating future locations of federal agencies. For the pending decision of where to locate the FBI, support of the Purple Line strengthens Maryland’s case as the logical choice for the new facility,” the chambers’ officials argue in the letter.

The letter also contends that the Purple Line would help retain federal employees, link University of Maryland, College Park with job opportunities and help suburban Washington, D.C., communities remain competitive with nearby Virginia.

“The Purple Line project includes plans to expand the digital network infrastructure and support future industries that will keep Maryland competitive. Virginia worked hard to build new Metro stations in Reston, Herndon, and four in Tysons Corner,” according to the letter. “We cannot fall further behind the economic opportunities the Silver Line is already generating.”

Daily Record reporter Bryan P. Sears contributed to this article.