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| Purple Line will open first between College Park and New Carrollton, state says | Purple Line will open first between College Park and New Carrollton, state says |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The first part of the Purple Line will open in late 2022 in a five-mile stretch between the New Carrollton and College Park-U of Md. Metro stations in Prince George’s County, Maryland transit officials said Thursday. | The first part of the Purple Line will open in late 2022 in a five-mile stretch between the New Carrollton and College Park-U of Md. Metro stations in Prince George’s County, Maryland transit officials said Thursday. |
| State officials previously had said the light-rail line under construction between Bethesda and New Carrollton would have to open first on the eastern end because trains will need the rail yard and operations and maintenance facility in Glenridge. However, they hadn’t said how far west the first segment would reach. | |
| The rest of the 16-mile line extending west to Montgomery County is scheduled to open in 2023. | The rest of the 16-mile line extending west to Montgomery County is scheduled to open in 2023. |
| Purple Line will open in two phases, with first in Prince George’s, officials say | Purple Line will open in two phases, with first in Prince George’s, officials say |
| Veronica Battisti, spokeswoman for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), said the first segment will link Metro’s Green, Yellow and Orange lines, as well as MARC commuter rail’s Penn and Camden lines. It also will connect to the Amtrak station in New Carrollton and serve bus routes in the New Carrollton and College Park areas, she said. | Veronica Battisti, spokeswoman for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), said the first segment will link Metro’s Green, Yellow and Orange lines, as well as MARC commuter rail’s Penn and Camden lines. It also will connect to the Amtrak station in New Carrollton and serve bus routes in the New Carrollton and College Park areas, she said. |
| In addition to the Metro stations on both ends, the first Purple Line stops will be, from west to east: Riverdale Park North-UMD, Riverdale Park-Kenilworth, Beacon Heights-East Pines and Glenridge. The first segment will not include stops on the University of Maryland campus. | In addition to the Metro stations on both ends, the first Purple Line stops will be, from west to east: Riverdale Park North-UMD, Riverdale Park-Kenilworth, Beacon Heights-East Pines and Glenridge. The first segment will not include stops on the University of Maryland campus. |
| While the line’s first segment would offer limited service, officials in Prince George’s cheered the news, saying their residents are eager to begin riding light-rail trains. The east-west line is designed to provide faster, more reliable public transportation than buses and spur redevelopment around stations in older suburbs inside the Capital Beltway, particularly in Prince George’s. | While the line’s first segment would offer limited service, officials in Prince George’s cheered the news, saying their residents are eager to begin riding light-rail trains. The east-west line is designed to provide faster, more reliable public transportation than buses and spur redevelopment around stations in older suburbs inside the Capital Beltway, particularly in Prince George’s. |
| College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn said he was glad to hear the line’s first segment would extend to College Park. He said he foresees people using it westbound to reach the Metro station closest to the university, while College Park residents could ride it eastbound to reach Amtrak and MARC stations. | College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn said he was glad to hear the line’s first segment would extend to College Park. He said he foresees people using it westbound to reach the Metro station closest to the university, while College Park residents could ride it eastbound to reach Amtrak and MARC stations. |
| “People will be really excited about it,” Wojahn said. “People in College Park are very excited about the seeing the Purple Line come. I’d love to see it extend to [the University of Maryland] campus right away, but I understand the logistical challenge.” | “People will be really excited about it,” Wojahn said. “People in College Park are very excited about the seeing the Purple Line come. I’d love to see it extend to [the University of Maryland] campus right away, but I understand the logistical challenge.” |
| The entire line, with 21 stations, was initially scheduled to open in March 2022. However, state officials have said that construction delays pushed back the full line’s opening until 2023. State officials announced the two-phase approach in September, saying they wanted passengers to be able to ride at least part of the line in 2022. | The entire line, with 21 stations, was initially scheduled to open in March 2022. However, state officials have said that construction delays pushed back the full line’s opening until 2023. State officials announced the two-phase approach in September, saying they wanted passengers to be able to ride at least part of the line in 2022. |
| Battisti said the state is still in “discussions” with the contractor, Purple Line Transit Partners, about how much each side will pay to make up for the construction delays. The team of companies is building the line and will operate it under a 36-year public-private partnership. | Battisti said the state is still in “discussions” with the contractor, Purple Line Transit Partners, about how much each side will pay to make up for the construction delays. The team of companies is building the line and will operate it under a 36-year public-private partnership. |
| Purple Line project gets new CEO amid cost, schedule disputes | Purple Line project gets new CEO amid cost, schedule disputes |
| The private consortium has said delays have added at least $300 million to the project’s $2 billion contract construction cost. However, Maryland officials have said the contractor is responsible for some of the problems. | The private consortium has said delays have added at least $300 million to the project’s $2 billion contract construction cost. However, Maryland officials have said the contractor is responsible for some of the problems. |
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