FAQs
Explore frequently asked questions about the Purple Line. Click on the question to reveal the answer.
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About the Purple Line
What is the Purple Line?
The Purple Line is a new 16-mile light rail line that will connect communities from College Park/University of Maryland and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda and Silver Spring in Montgomery County, with 21 stations.
What is light rail?
Light rail transit (LRT) is an electric railway system characterized by its ability to operate single cars or short trains along rights-of-way at ground level, on aerial structures, and in tunnels. LRT can operate in mixed traffic or in a separate right-of-way. The Purple Line will run in both mixed traffic and in a separate right-of-way.
Where does the project begin?
The line will run between New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to the east and downtown Bethesda in Montgomery County to the west.
Where are the Purple Line stations located?
There are 21 stations – 11 in Prince George’s County and 10 in Montgomery County – all inside the Capital Beltway. For detailed information on station names, features, and locations, please visit the Project Overview page.
What is the difference between the Purple Line and Metro?
The Purple Line is a light rail line powered by an overhead catenary system that can operate on the surface of roadways where vehicles and pedestrians can easily cross over its tracks. Metro is a heavy rail system that uses a third rail to operate and therefore must be in an exclusive right-of-way that is separated from cars and pedestrians.
Where will the Purple Line tie into Metrorail service?
The Purple Line will connect to four Metrorail stations on three lines:
- Red Line: Bethesda and Silver Spring stations
- Green Line: College Park – UMD station
- Orange Line: New Carrollton station
Why is Maryland building the Purple Line?
The main purpose of the Purple Line is to:
- Provide faster, more direct, and more reliable east-west transit service connecting major activity centers in the corridor including New Carrollton, College Park/University of Maryland, Takoma/Langley Park, Silver Spring, and Bethesda.
- Provide better connections to existing Metro and MARC commuter rail services and Amtrak.
- Improve mobility and connectivity to the communities in the corridor located between existing rail lines.
What is a Community Advisory Team (CAT)?
CATs are member-driven teams with representatives appointed from neighborhood and civic associations adjacent to the Purple Line alignment, and representatives from business associations and local governments. There are eight CATs – four in each county. Learn more about CATs and upcoming meetings near you.
What does “design-build” mean?
Design-build refers to the portion of the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain contract relating to the design and construction of the Purple Line. Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS) is Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP)’s design-build contractor.
What is the Art-in-Transit Program?
The Art-in-Transit program recognizes public art as an integral element of the transit project and further enhances the Purple Line’s high-quality stations, aesthetic treatments and landscape designs. Art will be incorporated into stations and certain other project structures including bridges, fencing and lighting.
How can I contact the project team with my questions, comments and/or concerns?
For both general and construction related questions, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) outreach team can be reached at outreach@purplelinemd.com or (443) 451-3706 / (443) 451-3705 (Español).
Schedule
When will the Purple Line open for operation?
The Purple Line is expected to open for service in Winter 2027.
When will the Capital Crescent Trail re-open?
Based on the latest published schedule date May 2024, the Capital Crescent Trail will open as soon as it is safe to do so, currently forecasted for spring of 2026. During construction the trail is being used for construction vehicle access and pedestrians and bikers are prohibited from the area.
Construction
What are the construction work hours?
Construction work hours are generally 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday throughout the project. In certain areas, work may occur at night or over the weekend as needed to maintain the construction schedule. The public will be notified in advance of any work that would occur during night and weekend work.
How does construction affect bus routes in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties?
As construction progresses, some bus routes and stops in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties will be affected. The Purple Line team is coordinating with WMATA, The Bus, Ride-On, and the University of Maryland Shuttle to minimize impacts and notify riders well in advance of any route changes.
What are the noise levels that Purple Line construction cannot exceed?
Times | Weekday Residential Zone |
Weekday Non-Residential Zone |
Weekends Residential Zone |
Weekends Non-Residential Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. | 85 | 85 | 55 | 62 |
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 85 | 85 | 65 | 67 |
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | 65 | 67 | 65 | 67 |
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. | 55 | 62 | 55 | 62 |
How is construction noise being mitigated?
Construction noise is mitigated through the use of noise and vibration monitoring equipment located in various sensitive areas along the project alignment. This equipment is monitored and reported monthly to Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to verify compliance with the project requirements.
How is dust and air pollution related to construction being mitigated?
The Purple Line takes a mitigation approach to emissions that begins at the source and will only purchase, rent, or utilize off-road equipment that meets the various emissions requirements established by Maryland law. By only utilizing compliant equipment, the project is operating within the requirements. In addition, idling of delivery, dump trucks, and other diesel-powered equipment is limited to three minutes. Dust is monitored by environmental personnel who are certified in EPA Method 9 for visible opacity. This process evaluates any dust clouds generated inside and outside the jobsite. Project requirements dictate that dust opacity cannot exceed 15% at the project boundary.
Have environmental studies been conducted?
Yes, prior to the beginning of design and construction, the Maryland Transit Administration conducted environmental impact studies and documentation required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) including mitigation plans.
What is test pitting?
Test pitting is a minimally invasive excavation method used to investigate subsurface conditions, often completed prior to commencement of construction activities. Crews will dig multiple (often small) holes as a survey method to visually identify utility locations and other subsurface conditions.
What is “blasting” and how does it work?
Blasting is the controlled use of explosives or gas pressure blasting pyrotechnics to break rock for excavation. The Purple Line will only use controlled blasting when the rock conditions require it. Explosives are not kept on site, but rather transported to the blasting site the day blasting is scheduled. The Purple Line will notify residents that have signed up to receive electronic construction notifications 72 hours before blasting occurs at the Bethesda Shaft.
Why has the entire Capital Crescent Trail closed for construction?
Most of the Interim Georgetown Branch Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring Metro is located within the same right of way where the Purple Line tracks are being built. For safety reasons, the entire right of way where the Interim Trail exists must be closed due to the type of construction that is taking place and since the trail is located in the same construction work zone. Based on the latest published schedule dated May 2024, the Capital Crescent Trail will open as soon as it is safe to do so, currently forecasted for spring of 2026.
Will existing bicycle and pedestrian trails be affected by construction?
Yes, some existing bicycle and pedestrian trails will be affected by construction. The Purple Line team is coordinating with Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to minimize impacts to these trails and establish detours where needed. View the current list of Construction Detours.
Are bicycle and pedestrian improvements part of the project?
Yes, there are several trails and bike lanes that will be built as part of the project. Learn more about bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
How is the Purple Line helping businesses along the alignment that may be impacted by construction?
The Purple Line is working with local businesses and chambers of commerce to avoid and minimize disruption to their operation during construction. The Purple Line team also works to utilize local businesses for project needs, creating "Open for Business During Construction" signage for businesses along the alignment, and providing resources and counsel.
How can I stay informed of Purple Line construction scheduled in my area?
Sign up to receive construction updates in English or Spanish via email or text, or both. View detours and impacts and attend a CAT meeting near you to hear updates from project team members.
Operations
What will be the Purple Line’s operating hours?
The Purple Line plans to operate 5:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Monday-Friday; 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Please note these hours have not been finalized and are subject to change.
How frequently will Purple Line trains run?
Once opened for service, trains will operate in each direction every 7 1/2 minutes during peak periods, and every 10-12 minutes in off peak hours depending on time of day. Please note, the train frequency is subject to change.
How large is a Purple Line train? How does it compare to a Metro train?
The train itself is a 140-foot-long modular light rail vehicle with five segments as opposed to a single 75-foot Metrorail train.
How many riders can a Purple Line train carry?
Each train has a maximum total capacity of 431 passengers and a maximum seated capacity of 80 passengers.
Can bikes be brought onto the Purple Line?
Yes, Purple Line vehicles will be equipped with bike racks that can store 8 bikes; however, if space allows bikes will be permitted to stand on the floor.
What are the noise thresholds that Purple Line trains must operate within?
The average noise levels emanating from the Purple Line light rail vehicle (LRV) shall not exceed the levels indicated below for non-corrugated, tangent track with all auxiliary equipment operating simultaneously. Special wheel profiles, wheel dampers, and/or other noise mitigation measures shall be provided on LRVs to ensure that wheel squeal in curves does not exceed 78 decibels. Noticeable pure tones are not permitted. The table below details the noise limit of the LRV.
Exterior Noise Limits
Condition | Noise Limit |
---|---|
LRV Stationary, Full HVAC | 68 dBA |
LRV Moving, Empty, Full HVAC on Horizontal Tangent Track at 40 mph [65 km/h]9:00 am to 7:00 pm | 75 dBA |
In Maximum Dynamic Braking or Maximum Friction Braking from 40 mph [65 km/h] with New Wheels | 75 dBA |
Will the Purple Line operate in snow?
Barring extreme events, such as a blizzard, the Purple Line will operate in snow with snow removal activities.
Will current bus routes and bus stops change when the Purple Line is built?
Any changes to existing bus routes are decisions that would be made by the individual bus operators, including WMATA Metrobus, Prince George’s County TheBus, Montgomery County Ride-On, and the University of Maryland Shuttle. The Purple Line team conducts meetings with the bus operators to coordinate any temporary bus stop relocations and route adjustments that are required during ongoing Purple Line construction.
Will parking facilities be provided at Purple Line stations?
No new parking facilities will be built at Purple Line stations. Parking will only be available at Purple Line stations that connect to Metrorail, where parking already exists.