Montgomery County will receive some financial relief thanks to the federal government’s award of $24.8 million toward construction of a second North Bethesda Metro station entrance, according to Maryland Del. Marc Korman.
The light-rail Purple Line originally was expected to cost $5.6 billion and begin transporting passengers by 2022. Now, the opening date is scheduled for December of 2027, and its price tag continues to rise. It is more than $4 billion above its original cost.
About $50 million of additional costs are due to the decision to create a second entrance mezzanine at the Bethesda Metro. According to County Executive Marc Elrich, Metro officials originally estimated the cost of one Bethesda mezzanine to connect the Red Line and Purple Line passengers at $2 million.
The project includes intersection improvements at Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road and a new transit plaza at the southwest corner to connect the station to two future bus rapid transit lines.
