Obama gives the Purple Line a boost

Yesterday, the Purple Line took a big step forward when the federal government recommended giving it a $100 million grant for next year and providing additional funding in the coming years.

President Obama included the $2.2 billion, 16-mile light rail line between Bethesda and New Carrollton in his 2015 budget. It’s one of 7 transit projects the Federal Transit Administration recommended for a “New Starts” grant, including the Baltimore Red Line, an extension of Los Angeles’ Purple Line, Boston’s Green Line extension, the Columbia River Crossing in Portland, and commuter rail lines in Orlando and Fort Worth.

The agency also recommended Congress give the Purple Line a “full funding grant agreement” committing it to help pay for construction. Maryland hopes the federal government will provide $900 million, though it’s unclear what the final amount will be.

The state has already agreed to put in up to $900 million for the project. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties will give $220 million total, while the state is looking for a private partner to build and operate the line and pitch in additional funds.

The Purple Line has been discussed in some form since 1986, and if everything goes right, it could start construction in 2015 and open in 2020. But getting here hasn’t been easy.

[Continue reading Dan Reed’s post here at Just Up the Pike.]

Dan Reed blogs at Just Up the Pike. The Local Blog Network is a group of bloggers from around the D.C. region who have agreed to make regular contributions to All Opinions Are Local.