BETHESDA, Md. 鈥斅燤etro鈥檚 safety issues and declining ridership could keep the planned light-rail Purple Line from being built.
A federal judge said in oral arguments Wednesday that it would be wise for the Maryland Transit Administration to analyze the impact Metro鈥檚 issues would have on the Purple Line鈥檚 expected ridership.
The idea was floated amid a lawsuit aimed at stopping the light rail line鈥檚 construction. Environmental concern was the primary motive for stopping its construction, but Metro鈥檚 recent issues have given the lawsuit renewed merit.
The judge said Metro鈥檚 issues would likely have some correlation with the Purple Line鈥檚 ridership, even suggesting a hypothetical judicial order that would force the state to spend six months to look into whether Metro鈥檚 issues could have a 鈥渃orrosive鈥� effect on Purple Line projections, reports.
An attorney for the MTA said delaying the project by six months could hurt the public-private partnership established to fund the project.
A Federal Transit Administration attorney called the concerns about Metro鈥檚 problems affecting Purple Line ridership 鈥渨ay too speculative,鈥� noting that only a quarter of the line鈥檚 riders are projected to also use Metro.
Both sides will issue briefs before the judge makes an official decision.
The聽16.2-mile line from New Carrollton to Bethesda would connect job centers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. It聽is expected to break ground later this year and start service in 2022.
