MDOT MTA Purple Line Newsletter Released for April 2026
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
A Purple Line LRV at the Adelphi Road-UMGC-UMD Station, shown during peak bloom for capital region cherry
blossoms.
Image and caption courtesy of MDOT MTA
BALTIMORE - The MDOT MTA released its Purple Line newsletter for April 2026. It includes construction updates, a business spotlight, and a message from Purple Line Senior Project Director Ray Biggs, II.
In the newsletter (below), Senior Project Director Ray Biggs II details the sustainability efforts of the MTA Purple Line for Earth Month. Aside from acting as an alternative mode of transportation that reduces congestion and carbon emissions, the Purple Line’s Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) has earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. RT&S recently reported on this news on March 18.
In that reporting, “the certification recognizes the facility’s adherence to ‘high-performance standards in energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmental stewardship.’ Located in Glenridge, Maryland, the facility is a central location for the Purple Line fleet’s maintenance, inspection, and servicing. The certification from the U.S. Green Building Council recognizes the MTA’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The OMF’s light rail vehicle wash bay was also designed to use recycled water to reduce overall consumption.
In College Park at the University of Maryland campus, LRV live wire testing began. These successful tests, MDOT MTA says, are the “culmination of intensive coordination among project teams, Prince George’s County, local law enforcement and the university.” Below is a YouTube video showing one of these tests.
Additionally, detailed construction updates in both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties can be found in the newsletter.
