Workers building the Purple Line, and with it the Capital Crescent Trail, have stopped construction as the companies they work for quit the project. This will likely delay the opening of the trail by at least a year. .
Contractors closed up the sites and then management was transferred to the state which took over, via MDOT and MTA, some of the contracts. The state says it's committed to completing the project, and using money from the Transportation Trust Fund to do so, but Maryland also says that the departure will result in delays of a year or two, which would push opening to 2024 or 2025. Montgomery County is paying for the trail (and part of the Silver Spring Green Trail), though Maryland is in charge of building it.
The two have been bickering about cost overruns and delays for at least half a year and over the summer a court had to grant a restraining order to temporarily prevent the contractors from walking away while they tried to resolve it, but that has failed and the restraining order was lifted.
The cost overruns are caused by a combination of coronavirus delays, construction changes demanded by CSX, right-of-way acquisition problems (or failures), code requirements, oh yeah and a stupid lawsuit filed by the anti-transit group the "Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail".
The lawsuit added 266 days and about $200 million
It's mixed news on the lawsuit front
FOCCT (pronounced fəked) continues to sue to shut the Purple Line project down for good, and they continue to lose. In April, a federal judge ruled that the permit that the Army Corps of Engineers issued for the project was proper. And so that ends the suing.
Just kidding. Nothing but the heat death of the universe can do that as long as some people argue that BRT off the ROW would have been better (The state studied that and decided it wouldn't be). FOCCT, along with resident Leonard Scensny and former Chevy Chase resident John Fitzgerald was back in court in July arguing that the Federal Appeals Court should vacate the permit. Last month the Army Corps of Engineers argued that FOCCT hasn't identified any material flaws in their permit and urged them to affirm the lower court's ruling.
Good news - Bethesda Tunnel approved
In a related subject, Montgomery County has committed to building the new trail tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue. For those who don't recall, the Georgetown Branch Trail used to run through the old rail tunnel, but that tunnel will be needed for the Purple Line and can't easily be widened. So instead they're going to build a new, additional tunnel south of the Purple Line tunnel. There will also be an on-street route south of that.
In 2017, the County estimated the tunnel would cost $25M, however when they completed 70% of the design that cost went up just a smidge to $54M.
The 1,000'-long tunnel would begin near the north end of Elm Street Park, pass beneath 47th Street and the east leg of Elm Street, continue under Wisconsin A venue and the new Carr Buildings, and emerge at the planned Woodmont Avenue plaza. It would be 16' wide, containing a 12'-wide trail with 2' to either side as shoulders/shy areas to the side walls. It would have about 12' 6" of headroom. It would have two underground curved sections: a slight curve near the west end beneath the Carr Buildings and a tighter curve near the east end beneath Elm Street Park The steepest grade would be 4.9%, within the 5% grade required to meet ADA standards. The tunnel would be well lit and be outfitted with security cameras and emergency phones.
Construction will take 30 months.
County Executive Marc Elrich decided not to fund the tunnel in January because it was too expensive and more than 100 residents showed up to complain. Council staff recommended a slightly cheaper tunnel that was narrower and with less headroom. But the County Council ignored that recommendation and in an informal vote(?) in April, voted unanimously for the good tunnel. Work is to begin in 2023 and finish in 2026.
I am very happy to see a new post. Long live washcycle, in blog form!
Posted by: darren | October 22, 2020 at 09:55 AM
Is there anything that can be done to push back against the stupid actions of the FOCCT in delaying the purple line?
Posted by: Kevin | October 22, 2020 at 12:06 PM
Any idea when the DC portion of the Capital Crescent Trail will be repaved/resurfaced?
Posted by: John Bik | November 10, 2020 at 02:30 AM
I don't know of any plans. Frankly, the CCT is in really good shape. I've been riding around all the area trails during the pandemic and the CCT is in better shape than 90% of the others - and better than most roads. If there's a spot you think needs attention you should flag it for the proper manager (DC or MoCo)
Posted by: washcycle | November 10, 2020 at 08:53 AM