Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Town manager reports on Purple Line luminaires, speed-camera access, Corso construction and park funds
Summary
Town Manager Todd told the council staff is pursuing luminaire shielding for the Capitol Crescent Trail lights, working to secure speed-camera database access through Maryland State Police or a county agreement, and reported Corso closed financing with Welltower and expects construction through summer 2028; the May financial report shows 97% of revenue received to date.
Town Manager Todd updated the Town of Chevy Chase council on a set of operational items at the June 10 meeting: efforts to shield trail luminaires adjacent to Elm Street Park, outstanding issues to enable automated speed-camera enforcement, a major private development's financing and construction timeline, and park/open-space funding available for small improvements.
On Purple Line lighting, Todd said staff coordinated with Purple Line Transit Partners and Montgomery County DOT about shielding two luminaires on the Capitol Crescent Trail. Dan Norman of PLTP researched an external shroud but found no off-the-shelf option; Todd said the town is now exploring replacement luminaires with factory-installed house-side shields that Dan estimated would cost about $5,000 each. Todd said the county and the development review committee (DRC) would need to approve any specification change and that county review typically allows about 21 business days for submission review.
On speed cameras, Todd said staff has met with the Maryland State Police and others to request access to the national driver/vehicle database vendors use to confirm violators. If direct access is denied, staff told the council the town's vendor could operate under county credentials and use off-duty officers to sign violations; town staff continues vendor discussions.
Todd also reported that Corso had closed financing with Welltower and signed a construction contract with Davis; staff said contractor mobilization could begin in mid-June, broader site work in July, construction through summer 2028 and occupancy by early fall 2028.
The Treasurer reported the May 2026 financial packet shows about $4.8 million (97%) of a roughly $5 million revenue budget collected through May; operating expenditures were at about $3.5 million (88% of an estimated $4 million), and capital spending was $656,000 (77% of $853,000). Staff also noted about $38,000 remains in Program Open Space funds that could leverage roughly $55,000 in improvements at 75% reimbursement.
Staff outlined additional operational items: street sign inventory and replacement planning, vegetation management work (55 sites identified with about half pruned by June 9 and seven private notices sent May 20), an ADA-related retaining-wall and path repair schedule, and a fabrication timeline of four to six weeks for a new gate at Thorn Apple Path.
What happens next: staff will continue outreach with PLTP and County DRC for any luminaire change, pursue solutions for speed-camera database access, and report back to the council as vendor and county responses arrive.
