Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and other federal, state, and local officials gathered at the future 16th Street – Woodside Station in Silver Spring for the installation of the final piece of rail connecting Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties on May 7.
Moore, who is running for re-election, said the completion of the Purple Line fulfills a longtime commitment on a massive undertaking.
“In Maryland, our people have one very simple question for all of their elected officials: Are you going to do what you say you’re going to do? People in Montgomery County have been asking that question about the Purple Line for over a decade, and today, we are delivering,” the governor said. “By completing over 16 miles of track from New Carrollton to Bethesda and putting more than 2,000 people to work, we are keeping our promise, strengthening Maryland’s economic competitiveness, and creating communities that thrive.”
For Joel Peebles Jr., when considering the Purple Line, one word comes to mind: accessibility.
“It gives us better opportunities to get more foot traffic through those areas, maybe even bring in some individuals to live in those areas, and then afterwards, it helps us to grow and expand and bring the needed infrastructure and the needed development to the community,” Peebles, a Democratic candidate for the District 6 seat on the Prince George’s County Council, told The Informer. “I believe this is the first step to a major change of community based development that we’re going to see in Prince George’s County, but that all starts with accessibility.”
Peebles, who is hoping to represent a part of Prince George’s County that includes Woodmore, Forestville, District Heights, Largo, Mitchelville, Kettering and unincorporated parts of Upper Marlboro, said that this new addition will be critical for many residents, particularly as people around the area and nation navigate challenges due to federal changes and the War in Iran.
“It’s going to help people get to their jobs quicker, it’s going to alleviate traffic and give people alternatives and cheaper methods, especially as we see gas continuously climbing day to day because of this Iran situation,” he continued. “It now gives people an affordable way to make it to work and now gives people who may have needed a position, but didn’t have the accessibility to get to their job.”
Van Hollen said state and federal leaders understood the challenges Maryland residents faced without the reliable public transportation between the two counties and fought for a solution.
“Public transportation plays a key role in connecting communities and growing our state’s economy,” said Van Hollen. “That’s why Federal Team Maryland worked to secure over $2 billion in federal funding and federal loans over the years to support the construction of the Purple Line. This has been a decades-long effort, and today’s milestone marks a significant step towards connecting Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, expanding regional transit options, and getting Marylanders where they need to go safely.
‘Building for the Future’
The 16-mile corridor will connect Metrorail, MARC, Amtrak, and bus routes from Bethesda to New Carrollton, not only transforming public transportation, but also expanding economic opportunity in the region.
“Today marks a significant moment for Maryland — connecting Montgomery County and Prince George’s County for the first time — with the Purple Line,” U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) said in a statement. “This is a moment worth celebrating: connecting more Marylanders to education, health care, jobs, recreation, and most importantly, to each other. Team Maryland will continue working to upgrade our infrastructure, so our communities can modernize and thrive.”
Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said the completion of the Purple Line goes beyond transportation, but is a further step toward equity for all Maryland residents.
“As an engineer, I know infrastructure shapes how people live, work, and connect — and this project reflects our administration’s commitment to delivering a more connected, equitable, and economically competitive Maryland,” Miller explained
She said the new rail is “proof that Maryland is building for the future.”
“The Purple Line,” Miller said, “will connect communities, expand access to jobs and opportunity, and strengthen our state’s transportation network for generations to come.”
While he sees the Purple Line as a moment to celebrate, Peebles said he also hopes for even more advancements toward accessibility throughout Prince George’s.
“I would love to see the feasibility of continuing to stretch many of our Metro lines deeper into Prince George’s County… Then also see what the quality of the transportation is. How can we improve bus fare? How can we improve bus routes?” he said. “It all goes back to accessibility for me. I want to make sure that the county is accessible at all times [and] that people can get anywhere in the county as easily and as affordable as possible to experience everything that Prince George’s County holds.”
As he vies for a seat on the council to reach his goals, Peebles remains optimistic about how the Purple Line will boost Prince George’s overall.
“I think,” Peebles told The Informer, “[when] you invest in infrastructure and you invest in development and quality of life, you will see crime go down, you will see the quality of life continuously rise, and you will see a better Prince George’s day by day.”
