As local union members and other representatives picketed outside, those attending a town hall on the status of the light-rail Purple Line project walked past dozens of presentation posters as they entered the main auditorium of the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The posters outlined various aspects of the construction of the Purple Line, a 16-mile, 21-station light-rail line that will connect high-traffic residential, business and commercial corridors from Bethesda to New Carrollton. There also was a model of the trains that will run along the tracks of the light-rail line, now expected to begin operation in fall 2026.
The project was originally supposed to begin carrying passengers in March 2022.
Here is a general timeline for the project, according to officials:
* Summer 2022: Maryland Transit Solutions begins full-scale construction of the project, which will include utility relocation, installing tracks along various points of the route and other components.
* Fall 2023: The light-rail train cars will be delivered to Maryland. They are being built in Elmira, New York, and will be shipped once they are completed.
* Summer 2024: The test track will be completed for the rail cars. That will be on the eastern end of the line, near where a rail yard and maintenance facility will be located.
* Winter 2025: System-wide testing will begin. The operation of rail cars will be tested along greater lengths of the route, and eventually along the whole line.
* Fall 2026: Passenger service is scheduled to begin.
Click here to read the rest of the story written by Steve Bohnel over at Bethesda Magazine
