Managers of the Purple Line — Maryland’s 16-mile light rail line coming to Prince George’s and Montgomery counties — announced Friday that they’ve selected a new contractor to complete the project.
The contractor, Maryland Transit Solutions, is expected to start construction next spring, once the plan receives approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works — comprised of the governor, state treasurer, and comptroller. The final cost and timeline for when passengers can start riding won’t be released until that final contract goes through, according to The Washington Post.
Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), the organization managing the project under a public-private agreement with Maryland’s transportation authorities, selected Maryland Transit Solutions after a search that began in January. The company is made up of Dragados USA and OHL USA, two American branches of major Spanish firms, per the Post.
The previous group of construction companies, Purple Line Transit Constructors, dropped out last year after complaining that delays and legal problems set the project back by more than a year and added $519 million to the total cost. (Maryland transit officials disputed those claims for years.) The state paid a hefty settlement to PLTP after back-and-forth lawsuits further stalled the project.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Elliot C. Williams over at DCIST
