Tracks would replace trees under Purple Line plan

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Tracks would replace trees under Purple Line plan

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Once again the Action Committee for Transit proclaims that the Columbia Country Club is the main opposition to putting Purple Line trains alongside the Capital Crescent Trail (‘‘Country club letter riles Purple Line advocates,” April 23 article). They do this to deflect attention away from overwhelming community opposition to this proposed environmental disaster.

More than 10,000 trail users hike and bike along the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring every week, and the number is growing as the population density of Bethesda increases.

Replacing the narrow tree-lined berm with double tracks for trains and overhead wires will require closing the trail for years, bulldozing and leveling the terrain and clear-cutting all of the surrounding trees.

The destruction of this irreplaceable, serene wild- life corridor would be a crime.

And for those urbanites not so inclined to use the trail, please be aware that the light rail will store trains for maintenance alongside Giffords Ice Cream and the Landmark Theater across from Barnes and Noble in Bethesda.

Pam Browning, Chevy Chase

The writer is an organizer for the Petition Drive to Save the Trail.