Vandal damages Purple Line construction site in downtown Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to the Purple Line construction site at Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street Monday morning, April 6, 2026, after workers discovered a vandal had carried out an attack at the site. Police say the suspect poured a container of oil into a shaft at the site, causing unspecified damage. Detectives believe the incident took place sometime between 12:00 PM on Sunday, and 4:00 AM on Monday. They have not released a description of the suspect.

Nighttime work ahead for Purple Line in Bethesda, Chevy Chase

Additional overnight work hours may be needed this summer for the Purple Line light rail project between Bethesda and New Carrollton. The Maryland Transit Administration advises that some work may need to take place between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM, or during the overnight hours. Areas impacted within Montgomery County include Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Lyttonsville, Silver Spring, and Long Branch. Concrete pours in particular may need to occur in the cooler hours after dark. "Hot weather can cause issues while placing concrete due to rapid curing that can occur at higher ambient temperatures," the MTA said in a statement. "Crews will prioritize the noisiest work to the daytime shifts."

Bethesda Purple Line station construction update (Photos)

The Purple Line project is many years behind schedule, but the downtown Bethesda station for the future light rail line to New Carrollton is beginning to round into shape. Looking into the tunnel opening from Bethesda Row, one can see the passenger platform above the track beds. Also visible are the stairs and escalator access to the future station. Ventilation equipment has been installed, according to the project team.

According to Ray Biggs, II, Purple Line Senior Project Director for the Maryland Transit Administration, the project is now more than 74% complete. 35% of track installation is finished. Several miles of sidewalks have been installed. And 20 of 21 future stations are under construction, with 12 station canopies installed.

Maryland brings in oversight contractor to police Purple Line boondoggle

Maryland's horrifically-behind-schedule-and-overbudget Purple Line light rail project may be getting some adult supervision. Egis, a global engineering and consulting firm, has been selected to serve as the Independent Engineer for the project. In this role, Egis will act as an impartial reviewer, ensuring the project meets standards of quality and safety. The firm will provide independent assessments for both the Concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, and the owner, the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line
station platform under construction

The 16-mile Purple Line will connect Prince George's and Montgomery counties. "We are thrilled to contribute to this vital infrastructure project, which will transform the daily commutes of thousands of riders," Yann Jaouan, Chief Commercial Officer, Egis in the U.S. said in a statement this morning. "This appointment underscores the trust placed in Egis by the Maryland DOT, MTA, and Purple Line Transit Partners."

Stairs leading up to rider platform at
Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station

Egis' responsibilities will encompass a range of tasks, including:

• Reviewing technical submissions and drawings
• Conducting on-site inspections
• Supporting the commissioning of the Purple Line LRT

Purple Line station rider platform

A dedicated team of LRT and P3 experts from the U.S., Canada, and Europe will execute the 4-year contract, the cost of which was not announced. Egis has an extensive history of involvement in complex rail projects across the United States, including some that have faced setbacks and troubles like the Purple Line. The firm's experience includes:

• Asset condition assessment of rolling stock for Amtrak
• Implementation of a fully automatic train control system on two New York City subway lines
• Current support for the delivery of the California High-Speed Rail program

View from Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line
station rider platform

The appointment of Egis as Independent Engineer for the Purple Line marks a significant development, as costs continue to spiral out of control, and the launch of the rail line keeps being pushed further into the future. It has become the state-level version of Montgomery County's infamous Silver Spring Transit Center on steroids. 

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line construction entrance gate was "destroyed"

The security gate controlling access to the Purple Line light rail construction site at Chevy Chase Lake was "destroyed" by a truck delivering sod to the adjacent Columbia Country Club, according to Purple Line contractors. Concerns have been raised about the missing gate, which has left the light rail infrastructure and construction equipment vulnerable to intruders for several weeks. A new gate is being manufactured, the Purple Line team reports. In the meantime, they feel that the round-the-clock surveillance camera aimed at the entranceway will provide sufficient security.

Purple Line construction access gate has been left open for weeks in Chevy Chase

The access gate to the Purple Line construction site at Chevy Chase Lake has been left open for several weeks, observers report. You can see the missing gate on the ground, behind the orange cones and netting, next to the entrance in the photograph above. This is a major access point to the entire light rail project, which runs from downtown Bethesda to New Carrollton, and a primary access for the section between Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring. 

Trespassers, urbex explorers, equipment thieves, saboteurs, or anyone else could walk right into the Purple Line construction area at this point on Landmark Court, which comes off of Connecticut Avenue by the bridge and Crescent at Chevy Chase apartments. It's a surprising security lapse in the post-9/11 era, given that the light rail line's infrastructure could potentially be accessed and tampered with.

NIghttime lane closures ahead at Chevy Chase Lake

Watch for nighttime lane closures on Connecticut Avenue between Jones Bridge Road and Dunlop Street in Chevy Chase beginning tomorrow night, September 15, 2024. The Purple Line construction-related closures will take place as needed for about three weeks. Crews will be completing utility work under the Purple Line bridge at Chevy Chase Lake during that time. Work hours will be from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

Purple Line tracks laid under East-West Highway in Bethesda (Photos)

Trucks began hauling rail for the future Purple Line into downtown Bethesda at the end of March. Now you can see the first trackage for the light rail line between Bethesda and New Carrollton under the bridge on East-West Highway. Standard-gauge rail has been laid atop concrete ties on a gravel railbed. To the left is the parallel right-of-way for the Capital Crescent Trail, which will be rebuilt alongside the rail line. 

You can also see how much wider the Purple Line is than the single-track CSX freight railroad that originally used this right-of-way between Silver Spring and Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Had regional railroad history turned out differently, it might have ended up being this wide anyway. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad originally constructed the Georgetown Branch railroad as its future gateway from the north to the south, and were attempting to reach a bridge over the Potomac River it had planned to build. 

If this project had come to fruition, today it would be a major interstate rail corridor and gateway to the south. Like many other main lines, it might have widened to two or three tracks. However, the B&O scrapped those plans when the Pennsylvania Railroad finally granted it permission to use its Potomac bridge. 

The B&O continued to use the Georgetown Branch for over 60 years to deliver freight to customers at Chevy Chase Lake, downtown Bethesda where Bethesda Row is today, the industrial area at River Road, the former U.S. Defense Mapping Agency site that was established in 1942 in the Brookmont area, and on the Georgetown waterfront. Through mergers, the line was later operated by the Chessie System, and ultimately, CSX. 

CSX upgraded the track of the Georgetown Branch, which had fallen into such poor condition that engineers were forced to cap their top speed at 10 MPH on some sections. But their investment was ultimately a complete waste of money. When CSX ceased operations and received permission to abandon the line in the mid-1980s, the line was acquired by Montgomery County, and all of that new track was ripped up. The Georgetown Branch right-of-way was then used to build the Capital Crescent Trail.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station taking shape (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress at the future Purple Line station at Chevy Chase Lake on Connecticut Avenue. You can see the distinctive design of the Capital Crescent Trail bridge over Connecticut, which was moved into place with heavy equipment after being largely constructed off-site. On the east side of Connecticut, you can now see the shelter canopy has been erected. A route signage pole is visible to the left of the canopy, and the tall post you see appears to be a support for the overhead catenary that will power the light rail trains.

Purple Line night deliveries ahead in Bethesda

To build a light rail system, you need rail. Starting tonight, March 28, 2024, that rail will begin to be delivered to the Purple Line construction site off of Montgomery Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Between the hours of 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM, trucks will haul standard gauge rail to the site. It will be unloaded from the trucks during the night. However, actual installation of the rail onto the trackbed will take place during daytime hours. Rail deliveries into downtown Bethesda will continue for about four weeks, the Maryland Transit Administration said in an announcement yesterday.

Traffic, pedestrian shift next month on Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase

The Purple Line may have just suffered another postponement of its delivery date, but work isn't slowing down on the light rail project. That work will again require changes in traffic and pedestrian travel patterns on Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase next month. Automotive traffic will be shifted to the just-completed eastern half of Jones Mill Road between Jones Bridge Road and Coquelin Terrace. A new work zone will then be established for approximately one year on the western side of the roadway, to complete a Purple Line underpass. A newly constructed sidewalk established along the northbound travel lanes will now be available for pedestrians. Please follow signage and directions from flagmen when traveling on this section of Jones Mill.

Rock Creek Trail closure ahead in Chevy Chase

A section of the Rock Creek Trail around the Purple Line light rail bridge will temporarily close on or about February 14, 2024. The closure is scheduled to last for about four weeks, and a detour will be in place (see map above). This is necessary to rehabilitate Rock Creek and the trail itself from alterations and damage caused by the construction. Work will take place in shifts from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM, as necessary. Crews are working against time, as environmental restrictions will take effect once spring arrives.

Purple Line substation to be installed in East Bethesda December 13

The installation of a traction power substation for the future Purple Line light rail system will require lane closures on Montgomery Avenue in east downtown Bethesda on December 13, 2023. Watch for flagging operations that day on Montgomery Avenue between Pearl Street and East-West Highway. The lane closures are anticipated to occur between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This date could change due to inclement weather.

Bethesda Purple Line construction update (Photos)

The Purple Line light rail isn't due to begin operation until spring 2027 or summer 2027, depending upon who you are talking to. So Bethesda is in for another four years of this disruptive construction, and no use of a sizeable segment of the Capital Crescent Trail. Here's a look at the current state of the construction in the area of Montgomery Avenue, and from the East-West Highway bridge over the future rail line. The focus of work is the construction of walls, and the installation of utilities. Blasting and excavation for future elevator access to the south end of the Bethesda Metro station continue at Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

Purple Line-related lane closures expected on Montgomery Lane in Bethesda on April 11

A significant delivery of construction materials for the Purple Line light rail project will necessitate temporary lane closures on Montgomery Lane "on or about" April 11, 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration announced today. The affected stretch of Montgomery Lane will be between East-West Highway and Pearl Street. Lane closures will take place between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM in an attempt to avoid conflicts with rush hour and school-related traffic. Watch for flagmen directing traffic during the closures.

Elm Street gantry crane construction update (Photos)

Assembly of a gantry crane for the construction of the new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station continues on Elm Street. In addition to the framelike structure, you can now see part of the actual crane machinery has been installed. The Metro station platform is 120' below street level, and space is constrained between the 7200 Wisconsin property and the Hampden House construction site across Elm Street. I believe this is the first time this type of crane has been utilized in Bethesda.

Elm Street structure mystery solved

The mysterious frame structure that is rising above Elm Street in downtown Bethesda is no longer a mystery. As two readers commented on yesterday's article, the structure is indeed being built for a gantry crane, which will be used for construction of the new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station. This will eliminate the need for a tower crane, according to this slide from a recent Purple Line presentation. The slide also notes that it will reduce the amount of disturbance by dump truck traffic, although it does not explain how, as the same number of trucks would theoretically need to come and go from the site one way or another.