ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A piece of the puzzle needed to build the Purple Line light rail project is running a little late, but is expected to fall into place soon.
“There is no problem with financing. Just a change in the original schedule,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn.
According to Rahn, the closing on the finances for the Purple Line initially set for the first week in June will instead happen early next week.
“But there are no issues. In fact today [Thursday], I sat down and literally signed about 62 documents in order for the financing to take place,” he said.
The $2.4 billion project is a public and private partnership involving Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the state and federal governments and a team of companies that will build and operate it.
Rahn expects that the financial agreement making available $900 million from the Federal Transit Administration will be complete sometime in July or early August.
The 16.2-mile Purple Line will link New Carrollton and Bethesda with connections to Metro, Amtrak and MARC commuter rail.
Rahn is confident groundbreaking will happen this fall. The light rail system is expected to be up and running in 2022.
