Purple Line (Maryland)

The Purple Line is a 16.2-mile (26.1 km) light rail line under construction in Maryland, in the United States, running east-west between Bethesda and New Carrollton, primarily within the Capital Beltway (I-495). It will connect the northern branches of the Washington Metro's Red, Green, and Orange lines, as well as MARC commuter rail's Camden, Penn, and Brunswick lines.

The Purple Line is designed to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by providing a direct transit link between suburban Maryland communities without requiring riders to travel into downtown Washington. It is intended to serve as a major east-west transit spine for the region.

The project involves a public-private partnership (P3) between the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP). Construction began in 2017, and is currently scheduled to be completed in 2027, following delays and cost increases related to legal challenges, contractor disputes, and supply chain issues.

The line will feature 21 stations, with dedicated bike and pedestrian paths along much of its route. It is expected to have a significant impact on land use and development patterns in the corridor, potentially stimulating economic growth and transit-oriented development (TOD) around station areas.