MTA Purple Line Bethesda - New Carrollton Light Rail

This is the major difference between the MTA and actual transit authorities. ( By the way, the "MTA" acronym has remained with the Administration throughout its history, beginning with the Metropolitan Transit Authority that first took over the old Baltimore Transit Company, through the Mass Transit Administration to its present Maryland Transit Administration) MTA has the statutory authority to operate services in the Baltimore Region, and to fund transit services elsewhere in Maryland, and includes playing the role identified by John. Thus, it is not limited to only those areas which have signed an agreement, as WMATA is.
MARC, though now a part of the MTA, has a different orgin. It began as a direct operation of MDOT, and in its early days was identified simply as MDOT. In those days, MTA ( as the Mass Transit Administration) and the commuter operation were separate "divisions" of MDOT. With the conversion of the Mass Transit Administration into the Maryland Transit Administration, which was actually an expansion of the mission of MTA, the commuter operation, now known as MARC was brought under the MTA umbrella.

O'Malley Endorses Light Rail for Purple Line
By Lisa Rein and James Hohmann
Tuesday, August 4, 2009; 9:51 AM

O'Malley proposes two new rail lines
Adam Tuss, wtop.com
August 4, 2009 - 8:49am

It would be shocking if he chose BRT for either the Purple or Red Lines (Baltimore), since LRT was overwhelmingly preffered locally (except for the Chevy Chase NIMBYs). Hopefully the projects don't compete against each other (or the upcoming Corridor Cities Transitway).

What ever happened to the proposed Purple line? Are the plans still in existence or did thay dump it?

It's still moving forward. Last year Governor O'Malley decided on the Locally Preferred Alternatives for both the Purple Line in Montgomery/Prince George's counties and the Red Line in Baltimore. Currently the final Environment Impact Statement is being completed and then it will be submitted to the FTA to apply for funding. Also, not every portion of the ROW has been finalized yet, particularly where the line crosses the campus of the University of Maryland.

See: http://purplelinemd.com/

Ok cool, thanks a bunches!

They're not going to do any of those single track sections that the trail fans were pushing for are they? That would kill service!

Davis

Minor nitpick: It's not really the "Metro" Purple Line - it's going to be built and operated by the Maryland MTA, not the WMATA. I imagine that they'll be accepting the same fare media as Metro though, so most people won't notice or care.

Yeah by the time it's built both the MTA (Light Rail, Metro-Subway, Purple Line, Red Line) and WMATA will be using interchangeable payment cards. The MTA recently started a pilot program for it's new Charm Card which can be used anywhere a SmartTrip card is accepted. http://www.mtacharmcard.com/

"jkovach"
Minor nitpick: It's not really the "Metro" Purple Line - it's going to be built and operated by the Maryland MTA, not the WMATA.

The jury is still out on that one. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has not officially stated which agency will operate the Purple Line. The Purple Line is wholly within the WMATA compact area, so they may end up running it.

I thought the MTA where going to operate the Anacostia street cars.

You thought incorrectly. Why would the MD government operate a streetcar line entirely in DC?

Idk, It just seemed like that kind of service at the time. Point taken though.

So does anyone have word on whether some parts might be single tracked?

Davis

"strench707"
So does anyone have word on whether some parts might be single tracked?

The entire H Street Benning Road route that is presently under construction is 2 track. As I recall to only part of the Anacostia startup that is single track runs from a couple hundred feet south of the car barn lead to the turnout at the south terminal at Duncan Street SW.