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Save the Trail Petition

Mission Statement

The Petition to Save the Trail seeks to persuade our public officials to find transportation solutions that do not put transit along the Capital Crescent Trail and to preserve the Trail as a tranquil and natural, tree-lined greenspace and park for generations to come.

 

Photo:  Trail users of all ages and abilities

on the Capital Cresent Trail

between Bethesda and Silver Spring

November 2008

 

17,000 Petition Signatures Gathered
To Save the Capital Crescent Trail

Maryland Transportation officials are considering a plan to build a "Purple Line" -- either as a light rail or bus transitway-- on the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring.

The existing Trail and all of the trees surrounding the trail -- thousands of them -- would be bulldozed and leveled.  The tree canopy would be replaced by overhead wires.  Trains or buses would run about 10 feet from hikers and bikers, passing every three minutes from both directions. 

The Petition Drive reflects the breadth and depth of feeling that the proposed Purple Line and a beautiful, natural trail are simply incompatible.

There is no transit system in the U.S. that runs trains as close to a popular trail and homes, as fast and as frequently, as the proposed light rail Purple Line.

Photo: Leaves falling on the Capital Cresent Trail

between Bethesda and Silver Spring, November 2008

 

You can help! Take Action!

 

The Petition to Save the Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring:

 
“We, the undersigned, want to save
the Trail and the trees between
Bethesda and Silver Spring. 
 
 Please construct the Purple Line
either tunneled underground
between Bethesda and Silver Spring
or in another location."

Photo:  Irreplaceabale Beech and Sycamore

Trees on the Capital Crescent Trail

between Bethesda and Silver Spring

November 2008

Photo: It gets crowded on the Trail

between Bethesda and Silver Spring

November 2008

 

Petition Signers Were Spammed by Action Committee for Transit:

Signers of the Petition to Save the Trail were spammed by Richard Hoye, Vice President of the Action Committee for Transit (ACT). Hoye copied the petitions that were submitted to the County Council and continues to send out unsoliticted emails to the signers-- with claims that ACT supports the Trail.

BUT, IN FACT, THE ACTION COMMITTEE FOR TRANSIT  OPPOSED THE OPENING OF THE TRAIL, THE OPENING OF THE TUNNEL, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRESTLE.

ACT's primary goal is the construction of the LIGHT RAIL along the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring, regardless of the damage it will do to the Trail. They oppose consideration of  transit either underground or along the Beltway.