By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has unveiled the first cars of the Metro’s new Purple Line. The light rail line is expected to open between Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in 2027.  

“Celebrating the arrival of the Purple Line’s first light rail vehicle is the latest significant  milestone in getting this much-needed new transit line up and running,” said Maryland  Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedenfeld.  

First section of Purple Line light rail cars unveiled by Maryland Transportation Department (MDOT. (courtesy, MDOT).

When completed, the Purple Line will extend 16 miles from New Carrollton, winding through Riverdale Park, College Park, Langley Park/Takoma Park and other central Prince  George’s County communities, and will end in Bethesda, Montgomery County, with 21 total stops. 

MDOT officials said the Purple Line is now more than halfway done.  

“With thousands of feet of rail track installed and 16 or 21 stations now under construction, we are happy to announce the project is more than 65% complete,”  announced Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold.  

Purple Line construction originally started in 2017 with the rail line originally slated to  start operating in 2022. However, in 2020, construction stalled on the project for more  than a year when the original contractor withdrew from the contract after numerous  disputes with state government about cost overruns.  

Construction resumed in summer 2022. But residents like Brittney Drakeford, an organizer with the Capitol Heights Farmer’s Market, noticed the impact of endless construction and long delays on low- and moderate-wealth neighborhoods located along the route of the rail project in Prince George’s County. 

Costs for the rail project have also ballooned, now close to $4 billion, said Arnold.

“Communities have been overwhelmed with the disruption of a transportation project  that has impacted their daily lives for years,” Drakeford said.  

This past spring, Drakeford and partners from the Greater Capitol Heights Improvement  Association developed the Blue Line Corridor Civic Leadership Institute. Organizers want to see more Black, low- and moderate-wealth residents in Prince George’s County armed with the tools needed to research, write and advocate for their own proposals about development in Purple Line light rail communities as well as other planned county  and state development proposals.  

 “We talk about equitable development and equitable design,” Drakeford said. “We go  through how to actually advocate for your needs in the public arena and where  community members can get data to support what we see and know about our  communities.”

The Purple Line Corridor Commission, a similar community organization focused on the needs of Silver Spring residents impacted by the proposed Purple Line, posted an editorial in the Baltimore Sun on May 19, expressing their concern about rising housing prices already impacting communities close to Purple Line rail stations.  

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