Maryland: Purple Line won't open until late 2026 and project costs have gone up too

[marmar]

It was safe to assume the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Purple Line would not open in 2022 per its original schedule. However, a revised project schedule from state transportation officials shows the 16-mile line is estimated to open in the fall of 2026.

The project has experienced a contractor change, dealt with legal challenges and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a new lead contractor on board and full scale construction expected to begin this spring, MDOT MTA and Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) continue to press forward with the project that will connect New Carrollton in Prince George’s County and Bethesda in Montgomery County, which are two of Maryland's most populace counties.

“Despite the challenges over the last several years, we have never lost sight of the benefits of the Purple Line for the residents and businesses in the National Capital Region. Taking the Purple Line P3 Agreement amendment to the Board of Public Works is the next step needed to move the Purple Line from construction into an active light rail line that creates a truly interconnected regional transit system. Getting to this critical step was made possible by the true partnership with Purple Line Transit Partners and the support of our county, state and federal partners to get this project built,” said MTA Administrator Holly Arnold.

In November 2021, MDOT MTA, with input from PLTP, selected Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS), comprised of Dragados USA Inc. and OHL USA Inc., to be the project’s design-build contractor. PLTP holds the public-private partnership agreement with MDOT MTA to design, build, finance and operate the light-rail project. ..............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21253204/mdot-mta-purple-line-wont-open-until-late-2026-and-project-costs-have-gone-up-too