Problems persist for Maryland’s Purple Line light rail project

Building up a full workforce is one of the issues facing the Purple Line project.

Twitter photo from @PurpleLineMD.

Delays and cost overruns have plagued Maryland’s Purple Line project, and there does not seem to be a recovery any time soon.

A panel representing the light rail project met with the Montgomery County Council on Sept. 13, and even though some progress has been seen there are still issues with the workforce and the supply chain.

Matthew Pollock, the Purple Line’s executive director for the Maryland Transit Administration, said construction materials like concrete pipe are still experiencing up to a year delay in delivery. Pollock added that ramping up the project over the last couple of weeks has gone relatively smooth, but there is still a challenge building up a full workforce.

There has been some talk that the Capital Crescent Trail, which runs alongside the 16-mile Purple Line corridor from Bethesda to Silver Spring, would open early. However, officials said some sections of the trail are still being used for a staging area for construction, and ongoing work would create a safety hazard for pedestrians and bicyclists if the trail was active.

Read more articles on track construction.