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Maryland Purple Line Project to receive $900 million grant

Posted: 31 August 2017 | Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

The Federal Transit Administration has announced a $900 million federal grant agreement for the Maryland Purple Line Light Rail Project.

Maryland Purple Line

Secretary Chao

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a $900 million federal grant agreement for the Maryland Purple Line Light Rail Project.

Maryland Purple Line

Secretary Chao

The 16.2-mile Maryland Purple Line will make travel across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties faster and more reliable for thousands of Maryland residents, improving access to major business and activity centres in the state’s most populated counties.

The project includes the construction of 21 stations, two vehicle and maintenance storage yards with shop facilities, and the procurement of 25 articulated light-rail vehicles.

“This project is well on its way to transforming public transit in urban Maryland”

“The Purple Line is a great example of what can be achieved when federal, state and private partners work together,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “Combining U.S. Department of Transportation resources with private funds, this project is well on its way to transforming public transit in urban Maryland.”

In addition to the $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreement from FTA’s Capital Investment Grants Program, US DOT announced in June 2016, a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan of $874.6 million to Purple Line Transit Partners, LLC, for construction of the Maryland Purple Line. 

“The Maryland Purple Line will create a fast and efficient connection for its residents”

“We applaud Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the State of Maryland for their vision and support to build a safe, efficient and connected transportation network that will give nearly two million residents a new convenient and reliable alternative to traffic congestion in the Washington region,” added FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes. “The Maryland Purple Line will create a fast and efficient connection for its residents as well as a strong foundation for strategic development along the corridor.”

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials signed the $5.6 billion P3 contract in March 2016 with the Purple Line Transit Partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 16.2-mile light rail system. MDOT will be the owner of the project and its selected private partner, Purple Line Transit Partners, will implement the project on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain basis.

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