FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 7, 2026) — Governor Wes Moore today made the third stop on his statewide “Delivering for Maryland” tour in Montgomery County. During his tour, the governor joined elected leaders and state transportation officials at the future Purple Line 16th Street – Woodside Station to install the final segment of rail, marking the completion of 193,100 feet of track connecting Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
“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,” said Gov. Moore. “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.”
The completion of the final rail installation marks a major physical milestone for the Purple Line, linking the 16.2-mile corridor from New Carrollton to Bethesda and enabling the next stage of vehicle and systems integration testing. The project now will focus on completing construction by the end of 2026, including completing station structural elements, Art in Transit installations, landscaping, as well as train and traffic signal controls. The Purple Line is expected to open to passengers in late 2027. Once in service, the Purple Line will offer a convenient alternative to driving between Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, reducing congestion and increasing connectivity.
“Today’s milestone is proof that Maryland is building for the future,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. “The Purple Line will connect communities, expand access to jobs and opportunity, and strengthen our state’s transportation network for generations to come. 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.”
“Public transportation plays a key role in connecting communities and growing our state’s economy,” said U.S. Senator Chris 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.
“Today marks a significant moment for Maryland — connecting Montgomery County and Prince George’s County for the first time — with the Purple Line,” said U.S. Senator Alsobrooks. “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.”
“The completion of the Purple Line is a major milestone for our state after many years of extensive planning, oversight, and waiting in anticipation,” said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. “By linking three Metrorail lines, all three MARC Commuter rail lines, and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line, this critical transit service will help connect Marylanders to jobs across our region, reduce congestion in our roadways, and foster community among commuters. As Majority Leader in the 117th Congress, I was proud to help lead the fight to secure the federal funding needed for the project’s completion. I thank the Moore-Miller Administration for its partnership in delivering a safe, reliable, and efficient mode of transportation for our state and our region, and I am proud to celebrate this significant step forward for the Purple Line.”
“We celebrate as the final piece of rail is laid connecting Montgomery and Prince George’s counties along the Purple Line,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “I’m grateful to Governor Moore and his entire team for their efforts to move this essential project along for the people of MD-08 and our state.”
“The Purple Line is a long overdue investment that finally connects working families across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties to Metro stations and commuter rail, making daily travel faster, more reliable, and more affordable,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey. “By easing congestion on our roads, it cuts gridlock, lowers emissions, and delivers real environmental progress for our communities. This milestone brings us closer to the fully realized Purple Line. I applaud the Moore-Miller administration in bringing this transit option closer to fruition.”
“Milestones like this don’t just happen, they are earned through years of planning, partnership and an unwavering commitment to deliver for the people of Maryland,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “When the Moore-Miller Administration first took office in January 2023, the Purple Line was just under 50% complete. Now the project is nearly 90% complete. I am excited to come back in the not-too-distant future to celebrate the Purple Line’s opening, carrying passengers, strengthening our economy, and improving the quality of life across the region.”
“Placement of the last rail represents more than construction progress,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “This milestone represents our commitment to expanding mobility so that more people can access jobs, education, essential services, and opportunity.”
“Over the past several years, the partnership that makes the Purple Line has worked tirelessly toward today's milestone,” said Purple Line Transit Partners Chief Executive Officer Doran Bosso. “Our progress has accelerated over the past two years, and construction completion is in sight. We will continue to rely on our strong partnership with the State of Maryland to connect communities across these two counties and beyond.”
The administration has committed a $3 million investment to drive economic development in Montgomery County through supporting exterior upgrades for business within a half mile of Montgomery County Purple Line stations. This investment was included in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
“Governor Moore has consistently shown up for Montgomery County and backed projects and investments that matter to our residents,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Whether it’s helping move the Purple Line toward completion, supporting efforts to connect displaced federal workers with new opportunities, investing in education and transportation, or helping grow our life sciences economy, his administration has been a strong partner for Montgomery County during a challenging time for our region. We appreciate that partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to deliver for Maryland residents.”
“We are excited that the Purple Line is almost ready. Investing in the Purple Line has always been about investing in our economy and community by connecting the places people live, work, learn — and enjoy life,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “Reliable, affordable and convenient public transit should always be the norm. Greater access to public transit means greater access to opportunity.”
The state’s support of the Purple Line corridor includes direct financial assistance to those businesses that have been directly impacted by Purple Line construction. Through the Purple Line Small Business Grant program, the Maryland Department of Transportation has awarded $2.6 million in grants to nearly 250 local businesses. The first round of 2026 grant award recipients were announced this morning with $600,000 being awarded to 60 businesses across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Two additional rounds of grant applications are scheduled for the remainder of the year.
Following the Purple Line event, Governor Moore visited Max’s Best Ice Cream in Bethesda, a local business founded by Cory Alexander and his son Max, who has Down syndrome, the shop is co-owned with Best Buddies International. During the visit, the governor observed the work of “Buddy” employees and met high school interns from Walt Whitman High School’s Learning for Independence (LFI) program. Governor Moore also participated in a friendly competition against Buddy employees to make the shop’s popular “Over the Rainbow” extreme milkshake and was presented with the newly launched, custom Maryland-themed sundae named “Give Me Moore Old Bay.”
“We were honored to host the Governor at Max’s Best Ice Cream today. Max’s mission – in partnership with Best Buddies International – is to create meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Cory Alexander, Owner, Max’s Best Ice Cream. “Governor Moore and his agenda are the embodiment of this important mission. Governor Moore’s courageous leadership in creating an inclusive economy in Maryland and his guiding philosophy of leaving no one behind provide the support and environment for small businesses like ours to flourish and fulfill our mission.”
The governor’s visit to Montgomery County follows last week’s “Delivering for Maryland” tour in Prince George’s County. While in Prince George’s County, Governor Moore highlighted initiatives to support stable housing and public safety. The governor visited District Heights Elementary School where he discussed the positive impact of the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program, which provides emergency funding to families to prevent eviction. He then hosted a roundtable at Prince George’s Community College to announce the expansion of the cross-agency Safer Stronger Together initiative into Capitol Heights and District Heights to invest in youth and address the root causes of crime.
