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Purple Line Mandatory Referral

Planning Board Review of Purple Line and Related Projects

The Purple Line is a proposed 16-mile Light Rail Transit (LRT) line with 21 stations, connecting Bethesda to New Carrollton. It provides direct connections to the Metrorail Red Line in Bethesda and Silver Spring, the Green Line at College Park, and the Orange Line at New Carrollton. The Purple Line project will be constructed along with three other projects: the Capital Crescent Trail, the Silver Spring Green Trail, and a new entrance to the Bethesda Metrorail station. Learn more on the Maryland Transit Administration’s Purple Line webpage.

Purple Line Mandatory Referral Amendment – Silver Spring Transit Center

The MTA Office of Transit Development and Delivery has submitted a Purple Line Mandatory Referral Amendment related to the Purple Line alignment and platform location at the Silver Spring Transit Center Station. This modification to the plan reviewed by the Planning Board on March 20, 2014 involves a change that will result in (1) the Purple Line alignment crossing Colesville Road at a different angle and (2) the placement of the station platform on the north side of the Silver Spring Transit Center (at the third level adjacent to the kiss-and-ride drop-off) instead of the south side nearer to the Metrorail and MARC/CSX tracks located at an elevation approximately 80’ above Colesville Road. There is no change to the Capital Crescent Trail in the vicinity of the Silver Spring Transit Center.

This amended plan for the Purple Line alignment and station location at the Silver Spring Transit Center will continue to be refined as Preliminary Design for this change progresses through the balance of this calendar year.

The Planning Board is scheduled to review the amended plan at its June 16, 2016 meeting. More information, see the plans on the Planning Department’s web site.

Comment Tracker

On March 20, 2014, the Planning Board reviewed the Purple Line, Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, Capital Crescent Trail, and Silver Spring Green Trail projects. A summary of the issues, Planning Board comments, and agency responses for each project is included below:

Interactive map tool

Use our interactive map tool to see the Planning Board’s comments on the mandatory referrals. Note: Depictions of alignments for the Purple Line, Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance,Capital Crescent Trail, and Silver Spring Green Trail are approximate.

Launch map tool

Correspondence

The Planning Board sent comments to the following agencies:

In addition, the Planning Board sent a letter to the Montgomery County Council regarding a direct connection between the Purple Line and the Red Line stations in downtown Silver Spring.

Staff Report

In an effort to assure compatibility with communities and businesses along the right of way, many of the recommendations in the staff report concern ways to improve station access for pedestrians and bicyclists, enhance urban design along the corridor, reduce environmental impacts, mitigate impacts to parkland, and improve transitions along the Capital Crescent Trail. Attachments to the staff report include:

Submission Documents

Learn more about the mandatory referral by reviewing the Submission Documents, including the preliminary engineering plans.

Project Schedule

  • June 16, 2016: The Planning Board will review a mandatory referral amendment at the Silver Spring Transit Center
  • March 20, 2014: The Planning Board reviewed the Purple Line, Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, Capital Crescent Trail, and Silver Spring Green Trail.