Who We Are

What We Want

Why Light Rail?

Rails & Trails

News & Events

Project Background

How You Can Help

1. Before the Purple Line there was the Georgetown Branch: History of the Georgetown Branch.


2. 1989 - The Georgetown Branch planning process culminates in the Approved Georgetown Branch Master Plan: Georgetown Branch Recommendations.


3. 1993 - Purple Line discussions begin: Purple Line background.


4. March, 2003 - The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) renames the Purple Line the "Bi-County Transitway".


5. Fall, 2006 - Mayor Martin O'Malley is elected as Maryland's Governor. The project is renamed back to the Purple Line.


6. January, 2008 - Governor O'Malley announces the commitment of $100 million for preliminary engineering of the Purple Line.


7. October, 2008 - The Alternatives Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released by MTA for a 90 day public comment period: AA/DEIS


8. November, 2008 - Four public hearings are held. Additional Purple Line endorsements are received from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the Washington Post, SEIU Local 500, the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board and others.


9. January 15, 2009 - Montgomery County Planning Board votes 4-1 to support the medium Light Rail Transit alternative for the Purple Line.


10. January 27, 2009 - Montgomery County Council votes 8-0 to support the medium light Rail alternative for the Purple Line. The Prince George's County Council had already voted 9-0 for Purple Line light rail.


11. June 17, 2009 - Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board votes unanamously to advance the light rail Purple Line by voting to approve the project for air quality conformity testing. This is an important move to prepare the project for incorporation in the regional transportation plan.


12. August 4, 2009 - Governor O'Malley announces a decision to submit the Medium Light Rail as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for approval by the Federal Transit Administration for preliminary engineering.


13. October 21, 2009 - Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board votes unanamously to incorporate the Purple Line Light Rail into the regional transportation Constrained Long Range Plan.