SGA gets closer to key vote

The SGA last night appeared poised to pass a resolution expressing support for a Campus Drive route for the planned Purple Line transitway, despite contentious debate about language in the document.

The resolution, which is scheduled for a vote next week, chronicles the progress of the Purple Line issue and concludes with the Student Government Association's support of putting the light rail tracks along Campus Drive. State transportation planners have urged the SGA to support a Campus Drive route and have planned for the train to stop at Stamp Student Union.

Much of the debate last night centered on how explicit or concise the resolution should be, with Matt Verghese, the resolution's key sponsor, facing off against SGA Senior Vice President Brad Docherty. Docherty and Verghese ultimately backed down, however, and Docherty told legislators, "I think it's time for us to pass a bill."

Verghese also agreed to back away from debate, saying, "This bill could die today, and I don't want that."

The resolution made it out of the Campus Affairs Committee with seven of eight members voting in favor of the Campus Drive alignment. One member of the committee favored an alignment that would have run along Preinkert Drive, the committee report shows, but the member abstained from voting. Committee reports do not include names of members.

The SGA remains the only major student group that has not voted on a resolution regarding the alignment of the Purple Line, which has become one of the most controversial issues to face the university this year.

The Graduate Student Government and the Residence Hall Association have both supported Maryland Transit Administration's proposed Campus Drive alignment of the Purple Line, which would allow Stamp Student Union to remain the transportation hub and center of campus life in the future.

SGA President Andrew Friedson said that while other student organizations have attempted to influence the state's final decision on the alignment in taking official stances, the SGA has been working hard behind the scenes with the administration to reach a decision.

"There was some serious pushing for the administration to come up with a more realistic alternative," he said.

While the administration had been opposed to the entire idea of bringing a new above-ground transitway on the campus at first, they are now at the point of deciding where to put it, Friedson said.

University President Dan Mote's position on the issue has changed multiple times, however. The third alignment the university has introduced would run along Preinkert Drive on South Campus. Mote has asserted that the Purple Line would destroy the natural beauty of the campus and pose safety issues to pedestrians.

Verghese's resolution, however, points out that a transit station on Campus Drive "would be convenient for all guests and members of the university community."

Friedson said he hopes the resolution could have an impact on the way the administration views the issue.

"If this resolution gets passed, we are in the best position to negotiate with the administration because we have taken the longest time to consider the issue," Friedson said.

Ann Wylie, Mote's chief of staff, disputed Friedson's claim, however, saying the SGA resolution would have zero impact on the university's stance on the issue.

"We're not going to change our position," she said.

Although an MTA representative was unavailable when called for comment, Friedson said that the support of the SGA on the issue will be important when the state makes a final decision on where the line will be placed.

"The SGA is elected to represent more people than any group, other than perhaps City Council," he said. "That has impact no matter what."

The MTA will present all options to Secretary of Transportation John Porcari, who will then make a decision regarding its alignment, transportation officials have said.

Introducing a resolution on the issue is only the first step however, and the Purple Line will not face construction for another number of years, long after members of the SGA have come and gone.

The resolution makes note of this future uncertainty by providing a provision that allows the SGA to change their stance on the issue.

"This support may be reconsidered in the future only if new information becomes available," the resolution states.

The resolution will face a vote next week, with a 60-minute debate allotted to negotiate issues in terms of wording, though the position of the organization appears to be clear, Verghese said.

"I'm very hopeful about this resolution getting passed," he said. "I really think it will be, in an almost unanimous vote."

langdbk@gmail.com