Maryland's Purple Line Gets the Green Light Again

The public-private partnership behind the Purple Line light rail project in Maryland fell apart in September, and has this past week been revived.

1 minute read

December 1, 2020, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Maryland Transit Administration

Maryland Department of Transportation / Purple Line Alignment

"The Maryland Department of Transportation will pay an additional $250 million to salvage a 36-year partnership with the companies managing construction of the delayed Purple Line," report Katherine Shaver.

The project "imploded" in September after cost disputes between the state and Purple Line Transit Partners, the contractors managing construction on the project.

"The settlement ends the state’s and companies’ lawsuits against each other and resolves what the firms had said were $800 million in cost overruns on the light-rail project between Montgomery and Prince George’s counties," explains Shaver of the details announced in a press release from Maryland Department of Transportation announcing he resolution of the conflict.

"MDOT did not release details of the settlement, and agency spokeswoman Erin Henson declined to say where the state would get the $250 million," according to Shaver. "She said more details will be released when the agreement goes to the state’s Board of Public Works for approval in December."

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