Northwood News ♦ October 2020

Purple Line Development Suffers Further Delays

By Sam Jones

Ask any Montgomery County resident for their thoughts on the Purple Line, and their response will most likely focus on the delays that have plagued the project.  The concept for the Purple Line light rail project began in the 1980s as a way for the County to utilize the abandoned CSX Transportation Freight Line running between Bethesda and Georgetown.  Over the past four decades, the project has turned from a relatively simple concept to a current project (and headache) for the county, the state, and residents alike.

No one can deny that many parts of Montgomery County need additional public transit.  As the county’s population continues to grow, county and state leaders must address residents’ needs for affordable, accessible public transit.  The Purple Line was intended to be a part of the solution — a light rail line that runs from Bethesda, across Silver Spring and Takoma Park, into Prince George’s County.  Unfortunately, compounded delays and lengthy court battles have stalled the project for now and threaten its future.

Back in April 2016, the Maryland Board of Public Works awarded Purple Line Transit Partners, a private consortium, a 36-year, $5.6 billion contract to design, build, maintain, and operate the line.  The project was intended to be a keystone public-private partnership (PPP) with the state and both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties contributing to the cost.  Almost immediately after the contract award, court battles were waged focusing on environmental assessments, lack of access to the Capital Crescent Trail, and other issues.  The latest legal battle delivered a significant blow to the project, which was slated to be completed by late 2022.

Earlier this month, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Geller ruled that Purple Line Transit Partners can break its contract with the state.  The company claimed that the state refused to pay $750 million in costs that it says were the results of state-caused delays.  It seems very likely that Purple Line Transit Partners will walk away from the project completely unless the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) can reach a settlement agreement.  If that does not happen, the state’s options are limited; the MTA can complete the project itself or redo the bid process for the PPP.  After the latest court decision, MTA officials have vowed to complete the project come hell or high water.  However, the only thing that is truly certain about the Purple Line’s future is that its past will repeat itself in the form of yet more delays.   ■