Maryland Department of Transportation announced another delay in the opening of the Purple Line. It is now expected to open in the Spring of 2027.
This is not the first time the opening date has been pushed back and the cost to complete the project has risen.
If opened in the Spring of 2027, it will be more than five years later than first announced.
In a news release Friday, Maryland DOT Transit Administration and the Purple Line Transit Partners announced they will ask the state Board of Public Works to approve a modification of the Purple Line Public-Private Partnership Agreement to extend contractual deadlines.
“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,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said in the news release.
The date change was attributed to “delays in completion of utility relocation activities, the challenges and complexities of completing construction in a dense urban environment with significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the ongoing national workforce and supply chain issues, and the unique history of the Purple Line Light Rail Project,” according to the news release.
After learning of the delay, Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian tweeted, “Hugely disappointing to hear re another delay in the Purple Line completion. This project is crucial for our region & we need it yesterday.”
Council President Evan Glass also tweeted his disappointment. “Communities, commuters and commercial activity have been waiting for too long.”
In June, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller predicted the delay during a speech in Silver Spring.
Hugely disappointing to hear re another delay in the #PurpleLine Completion. This project is crucial for our region & we need it yesterday. I have been in touch w/ @mtamaryland re mitigating impact of construction on communities & ensuring ped safety. @MDOTNews pic.twitter.com/KQRcE2sDXs
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) July 14, 2023
