Transit Advocates, Business Community Push For Purple Line (VIDEO & PHOTOS)
Montgomery and Prince George’s County business community and officials from both counties met in Silver Spring on April 20 to launch a final 30 day “Purple Countdown Action Plan.”
Alexander Metcalf, CEO and president of TEMS, Inc., presented a summary of his findings on the economic impact of the Purple Line.
According to Metcalf’s conclusion, the Purple Line will create 27,183 jobs, raise income by $2.2 billion per year, and increase property value by $12.8 billion.
“So creating a business environment. Improving the options. Creating new business opportunities. Will Facebook come to this corridor because of the Purple Line? Quite possible. … You know, new jobs. Can we create an environment in which basically we see new development opportunities for developers,” Metcalf said.
He also said these jobs are not related to construction. They are permanent jobs.
According to Meltcalf’s findings, a “substantial income tax benefits” can be expected. Assuming a period of 30-year-life, the federal income tax benefit will be $5.6 billion and state and local $3 billion.
Meltcalf "We're expecting substation income tax benefits." #PurpleLine pic.twitter.com/uVfArz1Hb3
— Aline Barros (@AlineBarros2) April 20, 2015
Representatives from 20 organizations in favor of the Purple Line- a proposed $2.44 billion light rail extending from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County- were in attendance.
Conclusions: property value rising, 27 thousand jobs, $12 billion extra tax generated. #PurpleLine pic.twitter.com/uR9ZxB4vHq
— Aline Barros (@AlineBarros2) April 20, 2015
After Metcalf’s presentation, attendees heard comments from senior executives from area businesses, chambers of commerce and economic authorities.
“Who wants the Marriott to stay here? We’re trying to get the FBI to locate here. Who wants the FBI to locate here?” asked Gigi Godwin, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
Godwin also said in order to be relevant “we have to build transit. We need Purple Line to be relevant. We have to connect our universities … We have got to supply the transit that not only our key employers and the federal government want, but our key employers that only the today’s employers but the employers who are not here yet.”
David Harrington, president of Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, said the transit project will not only create entrepreneurship, but will add home and help build a community.
"It begins to create entrepreneurship for a variety of a diverse of businesses," said David Harrington, PG County. pic.twitter.com/WNuuDMKZ6f
— Aline Barros (@AlineBarros2) April 20, 2015
Montgomery County officials ended the meeting urging the business community to send letters to Governor Larry Hogan explaining the importance of this transit project to the state’s economy.
The meeting took place at the Silver Spring Civic Center located at One Veterans Place in Silver Spring.
Representatives from organizations below will be in attendance:
• Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Washington Board of Trade
• Economic Partners of the Purple Line
• Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
• Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance
• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce
• Purple Rail Alliance
• Prince George’s Business Roundtable
• Purple Line Corridor Coalition
• Purple Line Now
• Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors
• Hispanic Chamber of Montgomery County
• University of Maryland- College Park
• NAIOP MD/DC
• Maryland Building Industry Association
• Coalition for Smarter Growth
• Central Maryland Transportation Alliance
• Apartment and Office Building Association – Metro Washington
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