This project provides funding for County coordination and oversight of the Purple Line project, including the three County-funded projects [Capital Crescent Trail (P501316), Bethesda Metro South Entrance (P500929), and Silver Spring Green Trail (P509975)] that are being included with the construction of the Purple Line. The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail line being constructed by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) between Bethesda Metrorail station in Montgomery County and New Carrollton Metrorail station in Prince George's County. The project will include the construction of 21 light rail stations, 10 of which are located in Montgomery County. The Purple Line, which is estimated to serve more than 65,000 daily riders, will operate both in its own right-of-way and in mixed traffic and provides a critical east-west connection linking Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. The new rail line will result in many benefits, including faster and more reliable service for the region's east-west travel market, improved connectivity and access to existing and planned activity centers, increased service for transit-dependent populations, traffic congestion relief, and economic development, including Transit-oriented development, along the corridor. The project is being bid out by the State as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with a selected concessionaire responsible for final design and construction of the project, as well as the system operation and maintenance for the first 30 years of service. The County's role in the project is defined in a Memorandum of Agreement between the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and the County.

MTA reached an agreement with a concessionaire in 2016. Final design began during spring/summer 2016 and construction began in 2017. The design-builder and the concessionaire filed claims to terminate the contract in 2020. A settlement agreement was reached; this resulted in the design-builder, also a member firm of the concessionaire, leaving the project. The concessionaire and the MTA have selected a new entity to complete the construction. The project is expected to be open for revenue service in spring 2027.

Montgomery County supports the Purple Line project due to its economic and mobility benefits. As with any large infrastructure project, significant impacts to the community - on both residents and businesses along the corridor - are anticipated during the construction period. MTA has plans for a robust public engagement effort during design and construction; nevertheless, the County has embarked on its own community engagement effort through the Purple Line Implementation Advisory Group (PLIAG) and expects to be actively engaged with the community throughout the various project stages. The County will also be required to provide technical review and oversight of both the County-funded projects and the overall Purple Line project to ensure that they are in keeping with County standards.

Certain County properties will be impacted by the construction of the Purple Line. To facilitate the construction and long term maintenance of the system, certain County properties will need to be transferred to MTA, in part or in entirety. Properties include (address and tax account identification number): 8710 Brookville Road (971041), Brookville Road (983094), 8717 Brookville Road (972728), 1160 Bonifant Street (1043367), 1114 Bonifant Street (1045696), 1170 Bonifant Street (1046100), 734 E University Boulevard - for roadway widening and utility relocation (975345), 734 E University Boulevard - for use as parkland mitigation agreement with M-NCPPC (975345), vicinity of 25 East Wayne.

FY17 supplemental appropriation for $8,000,000 in Recordation Tax Premium required per a Memorandum of Understanding with Carr properties. This will facilitate development of the Apex Building to provide an improved Bethesda Purple Line Station that includes a more prominent entrance and wider platform, thereby improving ADA accessibility and eliminating the need for patrons to cross the tracks, and an easement and tunnel under the building for the future underground segment of the Capital Crescent Trail, enhancing safety and user experience. FY18 funding switch of $367,000 between GO Bonds and Impact Tax. FY23 funding switch of $10,000,000 from GO Bonds to GO Bond Premium.

Maryland Transit Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, State Highway Administration, Office of the County Executive, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Bethesda Bikeway and Pedestrian Facilities, CSX Transportation, Purple Line NOW, Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, Department of General Services, Department of Permitting Services, Silver Spring Transportation Management District, Bethesda Transportation Management District, Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Bethesda Chamber of Commerce