Sen. Chris Van Hollen has written to state governor raising concern over the future of the famed Purple Line light rail transit P3.
In a letter to Governor Larry Hogan Van Hollen and other Congress members have said: “There have been very troubling developments since we were briefed by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Greg Slater in July. Now that it is clear that the Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) intend to leave the project and began to demobilize and secure the construction sites prior to the current forbearance agreement, our concerns about the fate of the project have grown exponentially.”
PLTP was chosen preferred bidders for the project in 2016 but the project has remained on shaky ground ever since.
“Given the importance and size of this project, we urge you to use this time to negotiate with PLTP and, at the same time, continue making the necessary arrangements to transition the project to MDOT if a settlement is not reached,” he said.
It emerged earlier this month that the Maryland Transit Administration is taking over day-to-day management of the 16-mile light rail project after PLTP expressed intention to leave the project.
"Since construction began three years ago, in September 2017, the project has caused significant disruption to the communities located near the alignment. Any additional delay in the completion of the project will only exacerbate the burdens being experienced by both residential communities and commercial enterprises situated in close proximity to the construction sites," the letter further states.
Van Hollen and members of the Congress have asked a series of questions to the governor regarding the future of the project and its costs, to read the full letter click here.