The Purple Line is a light rail line that will extend from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Silver Spring and Bethesda in Montgomery County. Five of the twenty-one stations will be located directly on or around the UMD campus. With direct connections to Metrorail, Amtrak, and MARC, the Purple Line will provide more accessible and reliable transportation for students, faculty, and staff. The Purple Line officially broke ground in August 2017, with a scheduled completion date of 2023.
January 2021 Update: In September 2020, due to unresolved project claims, Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP, the consortium designing, building and operating the Purple Line) terminated its contract with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and demobilized from the project. On November 24, MTA announced an agreement with PLTP to settle claims, end litigation and provide a way forward for PLTP to complete the project. In December, the Maryland Board of Public Works unanimously approved the settlement agreement. The approval of the agreement initiated the process for PLTP to identify a new design/build contractor in coordination with the MTA. We are encouraged by this step forward in completing the Purple Line. While PLTP works to identify a new contractor, the MTA is continuing some project work, including utility relocations. Updates will be posted as additional information becomes available.
Questions or concerns about the Purple Line on campus?
Photo of the new landscaped M. In preparation the Purple Line, which will offer the UMD community easy access to the surrounding region like never before, our beloved M found a new home just across the street from where it stood.
Messages to Campus Campus Construction Notices Purple Line Construction Updates Campus FAQs - Updated 9.30.20 Official Purple Line Site Presentations