Purple Line Transit Constructors wants out of Maryland LRT project
Maryland’s 16-mile Purple Line project has hit another significant challenge: The team tasked with building it intends to exit the light-rail project.
Purple Line Transit Constructors (PLTC), which consists of Fluor, The Lane Construction Corporation and Traylor Bros., Inc., and was responsible for the design-build portion of the project, will exit the project in approximately 60-90 days. While PLTC will not be part of the project, it did state its intent to work with Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), the lead contracting and finance consortium for the project, and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to ensure an orderly transition.
“PLTC still firmly believes in the goals and mission of the Purple Line Project and the important benefits it will deliver to Maryland,” said Scott Risley, PLTC project director. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of PLTC’s control, there were multiple delays on the project and PLTC was unable to obtain the time and cost relief to which it is entitled from MDOT/MTA. Regretfully, PLTC simply cannot complete the project under these circumstances.”
PLTC explains the project experienced delays due to third-party lawsuits, delayed right-of-way acquisition and changes to regulations and third-party agreements after the project was underway. PLTC’s design-build agreement contains an exit clause should total delays reach 365 days.
PLTC says it has spent nearly three years negotiating with MDOT/MTA in the hopes of continuing its participation in the project, but those negotiations have not led to a resolution that would allow PLTC to complete the project.
“PLTC entered into the project in good faith and was committed to bringing the Purple Line Project to Maryland communities,” Risley said. “We did not make this decision lightly and did everything we could to work with MDOT/MTA to attempt to come to an agreeable framework for us to complete the project.”
The project offers a connection between the suburbs of Maryland and Washington, D.C. Once complete, 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 will also connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services.
PLTP reached financial close on the contract in July 2016 and broke ground in August 2017. Rail installation began last fall and according to a community advisory, the project is 28 percent complete
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
