Claiming that the Purple Line is nearing a “crisis point,” Maryland transportation officials have asked a federal appeals court to issue an emergency order allowing construction to begin on the stalled $5.6 billion light-rail project.
Maryland’s appeal follows U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon’s June 26 refusal to restore the Purple Line’s environmental approvals while the state and Federal Transit Administration appeal his earlier ruling requiring a reassessment of the project’s ridership projections in light of recent declines on the separately operated Metrorail system. Maryland claims in its appeals court filing that critical decisions about the public-private project’s future must be made on or about August 1.