Mapping the proposed Purple Line

The 16-mile Purple Line is a light-rail public transit system that will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. Owned by the Maryland Transit Administration, the Purple Line will connect to the Red, Green and Orange Metro lines, as well as Amtrak and MARC commuter rail stations. Construction is slated to begin in late 2016 with a predicted opening in March 2022. Related story: Maryland board approves $5.6-billion Purple Line contract

Key facts

66 to 73 minutes from New Carrollton to Bethesda

from New Carrollton to Bethesda $1.99 billion contruction costs in the contract and $2.65 billion including outside costs

contruction costs in the contract and including outside costs $150 million annual costs for operations, maintenance and private debt service

Purple Line station

Controversial areas

Metro station Take a tour Controversial points along the proposed Purple Line See current site

See proposed design The Purple Line would be a light-rail system designed to thread through heavily populated neighborhoods along local streets in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. This is different from the heavy-rail system of the Metro, which has longer trains that require bigger stations, often underground. Purple Line owned by the Maryland Transit Administration

would run mostly above ground, along local streets

two-car trains

powered by overhead electrical wires

limited station parking, designed to be reached mostly by foot, bike or bus

honor system ticketing with ticket-enforcement officers doing random checks Metro owned by WMATA

trains run in own right-of-way

six-to-eight-car trains

powered by a third rail

parking available at select Metro stations

turnstile ticketing Source: Maryland Department of Transportation, staff reports.