Welcome to this week’s Purple Line NOW News. We’re so glad you’re with us!

As winter finally starts to unclench its icy little fist and the first hints of spring peek out (cautiously, as if they know better by now!), the Purple Line is offering its own signs of progress -- some big, some quiet, all worth a smile.

This week’s edition brings a mix of milestones, updates, and a few moments that remind us why this project continues to matter so deeply to so many communities along the corridor. Make sure to catch the spring Community Advisory Team (CAT) meeting dates which are coming up quickly.

Here’s a quick peek at what you'll find below:

• A Little St. Patrick’s Day Purple Line Magic -- Our VP, Greg Sanders, and his family happened upon a rare late‑night sighting of a Purple Line vehicle in motion, a moment equal parts excitement and nostalgia.
• An Update on Baltimore’s Red Line -- A snapshot of where the long‑awaited project stands and what’s coming next.
• Spring Street Bridge Timeline Shifts -- Weather delays push the reopening into summer; we walk through what’s behind the change.
• High‑Impact Construction Continues -- A roundup of active work zones and progress along the alignment.
• A Sustainability Win Worth Celebrating -- The Operations & Maintenance Facility earns LEED Silver, a milestone our partners can be proud of.

Pour yourself something warm (or cold, depending on the time of day you're reading!) and settle in. There’s a lot happening across the corridor, and we’re excited to share it with you.

Warmly,
Christine

WHAT'S HAPPENING!

Your Support Keeps Us On Track

As we shake off the last of winter and look toward brighter days, we want to say something simple and sincere: we are grateful for you.

Purple Line NOW continues its work the same way we always have -- without corporate underwriting, government grants, annual dues, or big institutional funding. What keeps this effort going is the steady support of neighbors, friends, and community members who care about transparency and reliable Purple Line information.

Your generosity -- whether it’s a yearly tradition, an occasional boost, or a spur‑of‑the‑moment gift -- keeps our forums free, our newsletters consistent, and our advocacy strong. Every contribution truly matters.

If spring has you feeling energized to renew your support or make a gift, just click on the purple DONATE NOW! box just below. And if you’d like to see the wonderful folks already powering this work, we invite you to take a look at our current donor list, as well.

From all of us at Purple Line NOW, thank you for standing with us, for believing in this project, and for helping us carry this momentum into the months ahead.

A Little St. Patrick’s Day Purple Line Magic

Every so often, the Purple Line offers up a moment that feels both historic and deeply personal.

Last night, our Vice President, Greg Sanders, set out with his mother Barbara, her partner Donna, and his wife Kate for what they hoped might be a bit of St. Patrick’s Day luck -- a chance to catch nighttime testing along the New Carrollton end of the line.

A quick note up front: We hope in the coming months, you are lucky enough to glimpse testing, too! But, please do so with care. Our project partners are eager to avoid crowds of enthusiastic onlookers gathering in ways that could complicate traffic or distract workers. Greg coordinated ahead of time with the concessionaire, followed their guidance, and stayed well clear of active work areas. We share this story in that same spirit of respect -- and safety -- for the work underway.

When the group arrived, the tracks between New Carrollton and Beacon Heights were lit but still. Police and DOT crews were stationed at several major intersections, including the Ellin Road crossing, ready to manage traffic for testing. But the trains themselves remained dark. An hour passed. The family stretched their legs, checked the block lights, and debated whether their luck had run out for the night.

And then...Motion!

Just as they were considering heading home, a worker stepped into one of the trackside trailers and a bright light flicked on. Moments later, at 10:31 pm, the stillness broke and a Purple Line vehicle glided into view!

Photo Credit: Donna Nelson

The train paused long enough for what Greg described as a “glamour shot,” while a technician with a clipboard monitored the onboard systems. Then, in a small but thrilling flourish, the exterior signs lit up. The interior display shifted from the time and temperature to a message that felt almost ceremonial:

"Welcome to the Purple Line. This train’s destination is New Carrollton."

After more than twenty minutes of evaluating, marking, and discussing the clipboard pages, the train eased forward to cross Annapolis Road. The family drove -- carefully and legally -- to keep pace, catching one last look as police again halted traffic at Ellin Road. That’s where their adventure ended for the night.

For Greg and Barbara, this wasn’t just a lucky sighting. It was a moment steeped in memory. Before his death, Harry Sanders spent more than three decades advocating for the Purple Line -- work that laid the foundation for the system we are now watching come to life. To see a train rolling under its own power, even briefly, was a poignant reminder of how far the project has come and of the people whose persistence made it possible.

Barbara and Harry Sanders

Testing will continue to progress eastward in the coming weeks, eventually reaching Riverdale and, later, the University of Maryland’s Discovery District on the east side of Route 1, although the testing isn't always linear and highly dependent on what aspect is being tested at any given time. As always, we’ll keep you updated -- and cheering from a safe and sensible distance -- every step of the way.

Enjoy this fun video the family took in the dark of night!

A Quick Look at Baltimore’s Red Line Progress

For those following Baltimore’s long‑awaited Red Line revival, The Baltimore Banner has a noteworthy scoop this week. Reporter Daniel Zawodny writes that Maryland transportation officials are quietly weighing two backup plans for the project, driven by rising costs, land‑acquisition hurdles in East Baltimore, and a tougher federal funding landscape.

While Purple Line NOW is not involved in the Red Line effort, many of our readers have followed the project closely -- and some of its advocates have collaborated with us over the years as they’ve built their own grassroots coalition.

According to the Banner’s reporting, the state is considering a pivot from light rail to bus rapid transit (BRT) -- a dedicated‑lane, station‑based bus system that’s far cheaper to build and can run just as quickly as rail when designed well. The other option on the table would keep the light rail vision intact but build it in phases, starting with the western half using state dollars and hoping to secure federal support later for the eastern segment.

Governor Wes Moore has not said whether he’ll embrace either contingency, but The Banner notes that the pressure to show progress during his term is real. A shift of this scale would certainly spark debate among Baltimore transit advocates, though it could also keep the project alive after years of delays.

The full article is well worth a read: Daniel Zawodny, “MTA considers pivoting Red Line to rapid bus service instead of light rail, sources say,” The Baltimore Banner, March 17, 2026.

Spring Street Bridge Timeline Shifts

The anticipated spring 2026 reopening has slipped to summer 2026. The delay is attributed primarily to extreme winter weather in January, including frigid temperatures and a major winter storm, which disrupted scheduled work and slowed progress. According to Purple Line officials, the winter conditions forced multiple work stoppages, particularly during concrete and deck related construction. These interruptions pushed the schedule beyond the previously expected April reopening window. Crews continue the construction of the reinforced concrete deck, working on the embankment, and roadway approach construction. These tasks are still active and progressing, but the weather related setbacks mean completion won’t be feasible until later in the summer.

Photo credit: MDOT MTA

High‑Impact Construction Continues

MDOT MTA continues active construction from New Carrollton to Bethesda, including:

• Track installation
• Bridge construction over major corridors such as Connecticut Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue/Riverdale Road
• Work on structures spanning Rock Creek
• Sidewalk and station canopy progress in multiple communities

The agency’s latest updates highlight several closures and detours still in effect, with an interactive map available for residents tracking neighborhood‑level impacts. As always, we encourage you to check in with their construction updates on their website.

Photo credit: MDOT MTA

A Sustainability Win Worth Celebrating

Purple Line NOW is thrilled to celebrate an exciting milestone for our partners at the Maryland Transit Administration and the entire Purple Line team: the Operations and Maintenance Facility in Glenridge has officially been awarded LEED Silver certification. This recognition places the facility among a select group of transit infrastructure projects designed with long‑term environmental stewardship in mind.

The certification reflects a thoughtful approach to everything from energy use to construction practices. The facility incorporates features such as reflective roofing, efficient lighting, water‑saving systems, and extensive use of recycled materials. Even during construction, the project team prioritized sustainability, diverting a significant share of specialized waste away from landfills. The site’s location near the New Carrollton transit hub also supports greener commuting options for staff, with bike storage, EV charging, and easy multimodal access built into the design.

We are lucky enough to know these hard working folks and this achievement comes as no surprise. Their commitment to building a system that serves the region well -- both today and for decades to come -- shows up in decisions large and small. This is the second LEED‑recognized facility for the agency, underscoring a broader commitment to sustainable, community‑minded infrastructure across Maryland’s transit network.

To our partners at MTA, PLTP, MTS, and PLTO: Congratulations on this well‑earned honor! Purple Line NOW is proud to stand alongside you as the project continues to reach new milestones.

Spring Community Advisory Team Meetings Set

Maryland Transit Administration has announced a new round of Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings, scheduled for April 14–28. These virtual sessions will offer residents and business owners a chance to hear directly from project leaders about construction progress, upcoming milestones, and what to expect as the project moves toward its late‑2027 opening.

CAT meetings have long been a cornerstone of the project’s community engagement strategy, and this next round comes at a particularly meaningful moment, when the project is far enough along that residents can begin to see the future taking shape.

All CAT meetings are scheduled from 6 pm - 7:30 pm, with Microsoft Teams links posted at Purple Line MD | Public Meetings and Events. The Spring 2026 CAT schedule is:

Tuesday, April 14 University Boulevard
Thursday, April 16 Long Branch
Tuesday, April 21 Lyttonsville/Woodside
Wednesday, April 22 Riverdale Park/New Carrollton
Thursday, April 23 Bethesda/Chevy Chase
Monday, April 27 College Park
Tuesday, April 28 Silver Spring

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