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Purple Line Chronology
1993 - Study of congestion on the Maryland Capital Beltway begins as a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) feasibility study.
1994 - Maryland DOT kicks off Beltway HOV Study under ISTEA planning regulations with a focus on adding HOV lanes to the Beltway.
1995 - Harry Weese and Associates proposes a “Purple Circle Line” with “High Density Residential Neighborhoods at the crossrails of Metro”. Their proposed alignment is outside the Beltway: Tyson’s Corner-Montgomery Mall-Wheaton-Greenbelt-New Carrollton.
1995-1997 - Open houses, public meetings, and public workshops are held. Support grows for looking at several rail transit options, including an inner alignment on the abandoned Georgetown Branch right-of-way.
1998 - The Beltway Study broadens its scope and changes its name. It became the "Capital Beltway Corridor Transportation Study". It begins to examine four rail transit alignments both inside and outside the Beltway, both light rail and heavy rail.
1999 - Beltway Study expands transit alternatives to six options- three heavy rail and three light rail. Three alignments use the Georgetown Branch right-of-way between Bethesda and Silver Spring.
Sept. 1999 - University of Maryland Vice-President for Administrative Affairs Charles Sturz writes letter in support of the Inner Purple Line serving the College Park campus.
April 2000 - Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) holds open houses in which ridership figures of the six alignments are presented to the public.
July 2000 - State presents ridership numbers to Montgomery County Council.
Summer 2000 - University of Maryland (UM) and the City of College Park issue a joint statement favoring study of the two light rail options that serve the campus. The statement supports a three stop alternative being studied: a west/central campus stop near the Cole Field House, an east campus stop near Route 1, and a College Park Green Line Metrorail transfer stop.
April 2001 - Governor Glendening is briefed on staff’s recommendation for further study of Beltway HOV and segments of Purple Line. The New Carrollton to Bethesda/I-270 segment is a high priority.
May, 2001 – UM Master Plan transportation recommendations include text supportive of the Inner Purple Line.
October, 2001 – Glendening administration announces plans to move forward with EIS for Inner Purple Line – aiming for groundbreaking in 2008, completion in 2012; Campus President C.D. Mote Jr. says "the Purple Line coming to campus is extremely important to the university."
Spring, 2002 – State prepares to procure consultants for EIS.
November, 2002 – Governor Ehrlich elected; spokesperson indicates preference for Outer Purple Line.
November, 2002 – Coalition to Build the Inner Purple Line (CBIPL) formed and incorporated to undertake lobbying and abvocacy effort.
December, 2002 – Both Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils affirm their support for the Inner Purple Line as a light rail transit connection between Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton
January, 2003 – revised draft Purple Line Transit Oriented Development study issued, raising option of 4th College Park area stop in the Research Park area (east of Green Line transfer stop).
February, 2003 – Line and Grade study completed by WMATA for Silver Spring to New Carrollton segment.
March 15, 2003 – Ehrlich administration renames Purple Line the "Bi-County Transitway" and includes non-specific request for federal funds to pursue the project. MTA indicates it plans to study “Jones Bridge/Jones Mill Rd option as requested by Delegate John Hurson (D-18) to avoid use of the Georgetown Branch. WMATA contract terminated.
March 26, 2003 – Montgomery County Council requests Planning Board study of the Jones Bridge/Jones Mill Rd. option.
July, 2003 – Montgomery County Council votes unanimously to oppose the Jones Bridge/Jones Mill Rd. option for the Inner Purple Line.
July, 2003 - MTA indicates plan to evaluate seven options for bicounty transitway.
Sept., 2003 – MTA holds “scoping” meetings as part of first phase of revamped planning process; new alignments include one bypassing the University of Maryland and an at-grade alignment along Rt. 410 through the City of Takoma Park.
Sept., 2003 – CBIPL condemns direction of state study and reiterates support for quality, light rail alternative connecting Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton.
Winter, 2003-04 - options bypassing UM are dropped.
Summer-Fall, 2004 - Montgomery County Planning Board develops alternatives for Silver Spring to University Boulevard alignment. These are endorsed by the County Council and forwarded to MTA.
November, 2004 - MTA Open Houses held; MTA begins final report on Alternatives Retained for Detailed Analysis
2005 - Pace of MTA work slows, but focus groups developed to look closely at alignment challenges.
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68,000 riders each weekday is huge! Counting down to completion of Purple Line DEIS; Latest news: Latest News; How you can help
See: Calendar of Events.
We need you to help keep the Purple Line a state and county priority. Write a letter, make a call or send an e-mail in support of the Purple Line today. See: Contact List
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