Get There Archive: Purple Line

O'Malley Backs Light Rail For Purple Line

Maryland governor said today's announcement is part of a long process. (Thomson) Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley picked light rail over a bus rapid transit system for the 16-mile transitway between New Carrollton and Bethesda. He also endorsed plans to follow the route of the old Georgetown Branch railroad right of way through Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the largely above-ground route through downtown Silver Spring. Maryland is "moving forward with our plan to develop the light rail option," O'Malley said. The next step, he continued, will be to submit a request for federal approval. "It's a process," he noted. "Some would say we've had 50 years of discussions." "Among our citizens, there have been disagreements," he said, stressing that the decisions he has made about the Purple Line follow "the locally preferred alternative" backed by Montgomery and Prince George's county leaders. The governor made the announcement this...