Construction is currently underway for the Purple Line, a proposed 16-mile light rail line with 21 stations, which will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton and provide direct connections to Metrorail, local and inter-city bus, the MARC train and Amtrak. An east-west route connector for Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the Purple Line has been under study since 1992. Construction is anticipated to be completed in 2023.
Purple Line Mandatory Referral Amendment – Silver Spring Transit Center
The MTA Office of Transit Development and Delivery 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 initially 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 near 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 2017.
The Planning Board reviewed the amended plan at its June 16, 2016 meeting. For more information, see the plans on the Planning Department’s web site.
Purple Line Mandatory Referrals
The Montgomery County Planning Board held a public hearing on the mandatory referrals for the Purple Line, the Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, the Capital Crescent Trail, and the Silver Spring Green Trail on Thursday, March 20, 2014. The Planning Board reviewed the four projects and forwarded comments to the Maryland Transit Administration, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. In an effort to assure compatibility with communities and businesses along the right of way, many of the recommendations 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.
Purple Line Pedestrian Connectivity Report
Montgomery Planning used the Pedestrian Level of Comfort approach created as part of the Pedestrian Master Plan process to understand pedestrian access to Purple Line stations. Analyzing pedestrian access at Purple Line opening allowed report authors to make recommendations for improvements to the pedestrian environment to make the first-mile/last-mile connection to these stations more comfortable, encouraging more people to use this transit corridor. View Purple Line Pedestrian Connectivity Report.
Staff Contact
David Anspacher, Transportation Planning
301-495-2191
Email
General inquiries about Purple Line
443-451-3706
purplelinemd.com