Maryland officials mark milestone on Purple Line rail project

The Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and Purple Line Transit Partners yesterday held a "topping-out" ceremony, which marked the completion of the future light-rail line's operations and maintenance facility.

The 170,000-square-foot facility, located off Veterans Highway in Maryland's Glenridge community, will support rail-car maintenance, repair and refabrication of running gear and electronic train control systems, MDOT MTA officials said in a press release.

Also housed in the facility will be the Purple Line Operations Control Center, which will feature state-of-the-art train control and monitoring systems, state officials said. More than 200 employees will work at the facility when it's operational.

"The [operations and maintenance] facility is a critical component of the Purple Line, and the final beam placement visibly demonstrates the project's continued progress," said Charles Lattuca, MDOT MTA's executive director of transit development and delivery.

When completed, the light-rail system will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. It will provide a direct connection to the Metrorail Red, Green and Orange lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line also will connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services.