[markomalley]

A billion here, a billion there...

[DoughtyOne]

Exactly. And how much gas tax will be stolen to be used in this project? Then how soon will the state come at the populace for more toll roads because there aren’t enough tax dollars in the gas tax fund bank to take care of the roads?

And even Freepers buy off on this sort of thing.

[ronnietherocket3]

Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley restored the Purple Line name after defeating Ehrlich in 2006. In 2013, the Maryland General Assembly approved a gas tax increase to raise funds to build transportation projects, including the Purple Line.

This has been in the works for 9 years now with no actual construction going on? This sounds like quite the slush fund for lobbyists.

Since Hogan took office, supporters of the Purple Line have focused on its business development potential. Business groups as well as transit advocacy groups have lobbied the governor by saying the light-rail is likely to spur development along its route and bring jobs to the state—a key campaign promise of Hogan’s.

Since this is in Montogomery County (a DC suburb), doesn't the Federal Government bring jobs to the state? Why do you need more jobs in Mont. Co.?

The Town of Chevy Chase spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying against it.

We have one government spending money to lobby another government to not spend money?

The remainder of the cost will be financed by private financing; which will come from the private partner that is awarded the contract to build and operate the system. The loan would be paid back by taxpayers over time as well as through transit fares.

I find this disturbing, but cannot figure out why.

[iowamark]

The assumption here is the continued explosive growth of the DC metroplex. We cannot afford that. The mass transit issue is just a sideshow.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Vision]

You can already get from New Carrollton to Bethesda via a train? WTH?