A Guide to Opposition Groups
There are several groups that are serving as vehicles for the opposition to the Inner Purple Line. The core energy and funding for these groups comes from "NIMBY" not-in-my-back-yard opposition along the route of the trail and rail. The core of the opposition is the Columbia Country Club and its membership. This small group of self interested neighbors has dumped an incredible amount of energy and cash into defeating the Inner Purple Line. They have spread misinformation about impacts on the trail, noise and general support for their position. This web site and our communications efforts have refuted their claims and spread truth on the debate.
There is an alphabet soup of anti-Purple Line organizations. Click on each name for more details.
- Association for Smarter Transportation (A4ST)
- Columbia CC = Columbia Country Club
- COST = Committee to Save the Trail
- GBCCC = Greater Bethesda Chevy Chase Coalition
- Rethinking the Purple Line
- Smartpac = Smart Alternatives for Rail Transit
- Town of Chevy Chase
The Town of Chevy Chase and other anti-Purple Line homeowners often deny their association with Columbia Country Club, but the record shows that they are close allies. For years, all worked under the umbrella of the country-club-financed Greater Bethesda Chevy Chase Coalition and Committee to Save the Trail. Now two separate coalitions have been established, the club-linked A4ST and the Town-funded Rethinking the Purple Line. But Town and country club continue to work hand in glove behind the scenes. In November 2008, the country club sent the Maryland Transit Administration a letter requesting certain data and threatening a legal demand if the data was not provided. A month later the follow-up letter arrived - signed by the Town's lawyers, Sidley Austin.
Follow the money trail.