Maryland transit officials seek public comments on Purple Line's environmental statement

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Draft Section Evaluation for the MTA's proposed Purple Line light-rail service and are seeking public comments on the document.

The purpose of the FEIS is to identify and address issues raised by ageny and public stakeholders throughout the project development phase, MTA officials said in a press release.

"Over the past four years, the MTA's Purple Line team has led an extensive public outreach effort with local citizens, businesses and agency partners to ensure we are designing a project that minimizes community and environmental impacts while delivering improved accessibility and transit connectivity that gets people to where they want to go," said MTA Administrator Robert Smith.

A 30-day public comment period for the FEIS began Sept. 6.

The Purple Line is a proposed $2.2 billion, 16-mile, 21-station light-rail line that would connect major business districts and activity centers in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma/Langley Park, College Park/University of Maryland and New Carrolton, as well as link to Metrorail's Red, Green and Orange lines.