After Hogan Rides Maglev Train in Japan,
Purple Line Backers Invite Him to Maryland Transit Route
Press release issued June 11, 2015
Standing in front of the Maryland State House, Purple Line supporters this morning invited Governor Larry Hogan to tour the route of the planned light rail line. The governor returned Sunday from a 12-day trip to the Far East, where he rode Japan's maglev high-speed train, but he has not yet looked at the routes of the Purple Line and Red Line in Maryland.
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Governor Hogan's communications director, Matthew Clark, told the Sun last week that the governor has not toured the routes of the two Maryland light rail lines because he hasn't been invited. The governor has repeatedly postponed a decision about whether to go forward with the Purple Line, which is ready to build and will get a $900 million federal grant and an additional $729 million in low-interest federal loans. The Red Line, which also awaits the governor's decision, will get an additional $900 million in federal grant money.
Members of the Montgomery-based Action Committee for Transit and the Prince George's Advocates for Community-based Transit gathered on Lawyers Mall in front of the State House Thursday morning at 11:00 am with a giant blow-up of their engraved invitation. “We didn't think the governor needs an invitation to visit his own state,” commented ACT president Nick Brand. “But we're willing to go the extra mile here.”
“Now is the time for Governor Hogan to tour the future route of the Purple Line to get an up close look at the benefits and revenue the rail line will bring for Montgomery and Prince George's Counties,” added Lessie Henderson, Co-Chair of Prince George's ACT. “After the governor rode the maglev, he said ‘Seeing is believing,’ and we think that applies here too.”