Purple Line Light Rail Project

under construction

The Purple Line is a long-delayed light rail project connecting Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. The project involves approximately 16.2 miles of continuous steel track laid over bridges, across streets, and through tunnels between Bethesda and New Carrollton. It is a public-private partnership with state ownership but private companies delivering and operating the system. Construction began in 2017 and faced delays due to litigation, cost overruns, and the COVID pandemic. The Maryland Transit Administration took over construction in 2020 and a new builder, Maryland Transit Solutions, joined in 2022. The project includes building 21 future stations and installing electrical power and communication systems. Passenger service is projected to begin in December 2027, with a total project cost exceeding $9 billion including operations.