Welcome
The Purple Line study is moving forward with a renewed energy. The new Secretary of Transportation for Maryland, John Porcari, restored the project to its former name, the Purple Line, rather than the Bi-County Transitway. While the Bi-County Transitway name reflected the two-county area of the proposed project, the Purple Line was the original name for the project and has continued to be used by most people. The project study has not changed, and the Purple Line continues to be a high transportation priority.
We'd like to meet with you
If your community association or neighborhood organization is interested in meeting with the MTA on the Purple Line to discuss specific concerns or questions, please contact the Project Manager, Michael Madden.
Drilling Underway to Better Assess Tunnel Options
Recently, you may have noticed drilling equipment in East Silver Spring neighborhoods. The MTA has been taking borings in the area to determine what types of soil and rock are underground. This information will help us to better assess the tunnel options that are under consideration for East Silver Spring. The type of soil and rock will determine what tunneling methods would be most appropriate, and allow for a more accurate estimate of the cost of possible tunnel options.
At this stage of the study, all of the drilling is being done on public property. The drilling is only taking place on weekdays during the day.
After taking the borings in East Silver Spring, the MTA will be moving the drillings on to other areas of the study corridor.
In the next few months, you may see other specialists collecting data for the project study. Cultural historians will be documenting historic structures and biologists will be identifying environmental features such as wildlife habitat and wetlands. You may also see noise experts in your community measuring the existing noise levels with special equipment.
