<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Neighbours,</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">The Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization CDC has started a petition calling on state officials to reconsider the recently substituted solid wall design for the Purple Line stop at Kenilworth Avenue and MD 410. CKAR considers this a priority issue and is looking to garner 5,000 signatures. Their </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">concern</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> about the</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">redesign is the use of</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> a solid concrete wall support at this major intersection.</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">The main section, supporting the station stop, will be </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">over 500 feet long and 26-feet high</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">; creating a solid support structure close to a quarter mile in length</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">. </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">It is their belief this</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> structure would visually and physically divide our community in half</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> and that a</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">dding a wall of this magnitude would stifle economic growth</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">. CKAR is advocating for a column support structure which it believes would be</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> a positive transit solution. CKAR believes an open design</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> would </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">genera</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">te </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">quality economic development, provide safer crossings, increased overhead weather coverage for its patrons and a better design for the </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">elevators and stairs with uninterrupted visibility </span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">(</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">from grade</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">)</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15"> to discourage crime</span></span><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">. On this 5.6 billion dollar project, the cost difference is said to be approximately 4.0 million dollars. The petition can be found here:</span></span><a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/purple-line-no-wall-divide?source=c.fwd&r_by=15695968" style="text-align: left; "><span class="s5" style="direction: rtl; ">http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/purple-line-no-wall-divide?source=c.fwd&r_by=15695968</span></a><span class="s4" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; "><span class="bumpedFont15">.</span></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Thank you for your consideration of this very important issue.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Sincerely,<br><br>David</div></body></html>