The Sierra Club is criticizing the Bush administration for what it says is a lack of money that puts new rail projects, including the Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton, at risk.
The Purple Line was one of 12 projects across the country cited by the Sierra Club.
"Having already been relegated to the back burner while the Ehrlich Administration pushes for construction of the multi-billion dollar Intercounty Connector, the Purple Line would face even tougher funding obstacles under the proposed Bush administration policy," the club said in a report to be released today.
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) has pushed back the timetable for the Purple Line by several years, renamed it the "Bi-County Transitway" and vowed that it will not cross the Columbia Country Club. Ehrlich also has spoken favorably of using cheaper buses over light rail.
The Bush administration has proposed reducing the federal matching share for transit and seeks to spend $4 on highways for every $1 on transit, which the Sierra Club contends will jeopardize new projects at a time of soaring ridership.
|
