On Friday, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration and the Purple Line Transit Partners announced they were seeking approval of an extension to the plan to complete a light rail project.
The agreement would seek approval to a modification of the Purple Line Public-Private Partnership Agreement and asks for an extension to the deadline for achieving Revenue Service Availability to Spring 2027. The schedule change is necessary, officials said, because of delays relocating utilities, as well as the challenges of completing construction in an urban environment.
“Updating the schedule to reflect the challenges we are facing on the project is an important step in accountability and delivering a project that the region can be proud of,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “We are thankful to our partners and the community for their support and patience as we work to complete the Purple Line.”
The Purple Line Light Rail Project has seen two highly unique events, officials said, a set aside and reinstatement of a key federal government environmental approval in 2016, and the replacement of the design-build contractor in 2022. The new design-build contractor faced unexpected conditions, officials said, as some of the construction sites for the project sat dormant for nearly two years.
“We understand the impacts that prolonged construction creates for the residents and businesses along the Purple Line alignment and will continue to minimize disruptions where possible,” Ray Biggs, II, Purple Line Project Director, said. “We are also focused on improving collaboration with stakeholders and third parties to maximize the ability to advance the rate of construction. For example, this summer, the University of Maryland, College Park, agreed to a closure of Campus Drive and Union Lane to help expedite construction on campus by enabling the contractor to complete construction quicker than if they were working around vehicular traffic.”
The project is more than 50 percent complete, officials said, and construction is continuing along line from New Carrollton to Bethesda at 60 active construction sites. More than 700 workers are at work relocating utilities, and replacing and upgrading storm drain systems. Additionally, several stations are currently under construction, as well as some bridge and retaining walls. Light rail track is being laid at several locations and vertical excavation of a 130-foot shaft is ongoing to connect future Purple Line riders to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metro’s Red Line.
The Purple Line Transit Partners and Maryland Transit Administration have collaborated to address delays where possible and to reach agreements on the equitable resolution of those delays. In addition to the opening date extension, Maryland Transit Administration will provide Purple Line Transit Partners with $148 million in net compensation, which reflects additional costs of continuing construction activities through the extended period.
The agreement is scheduled for review by the Board of Public Works on July 19.