Home > Purple Line > Where Would the Purple Line Go? Where Would the Purple Line Go? 
The Purple Line would be a critical link in the chain of regional transit. It would run through important residential and commercial centers like Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, Oxon Hill, Alexandria, and Tysons Corner. The Purple Line would connect existing Metro lines (Blue, Green, Orange, Red, and Yellow) and MARC and VRE stations.
Purple Line Rail on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge
- Rail would create transportation choices for rush hour drivers on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, 80% of whom are local commuters. (Every day, 95,000 Prince George’s County residents drive across the bridge to jobs in Virginia.
- Rail is a necessary part of revitalizing downtown Oxon Hill. It would also reduce congestion in historic Alexandria and provide access to National Harbor.
- The bridge crossing is expected to be congested within two years of renovation. Two lanes of rail on the bridge could serve at least the same number of passengers as the 12 highway lanes planned for the reconstruction.
- Adding a rail line while the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project is underway makes more financial sense than waiting until it’s completed.
Alexandria to Tysons Corner
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Riders from the Maryland and Virginia suburbs would have easy access to Tysons Corner, one of the region’s fastest growing commercial and business centers.
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The Purple Line would link Virginia suburbs to the Metrorail system at four places (Alexandria, Springfield, Dunn Loring, and Tysons Corner).
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A new Metrorail station would enhance efforts to redevelop Tysons Corner into a walkable town center with convenient transit.
University of Maryland to New Carrollton
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Students and residents would have access to commercial and entertainment centers like Silver Spring and Bethesda.
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The Purple Line would make it possible to connect from Metro to MARC trains, easing travel to Baltimore and BWI airport.
Bethesda to Silver Spring
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In 1988, Montgomery County purchased the Georgetown Branch right-of-way with public tax dollars. The County stated its intent to use the right-of-way for both transit and recreation.
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Building the Purple Line would include finally completing the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring. No changes or tree cutting would occur on the trail between Georgetown and Bethesda.
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Regional planners view this Purple Line section as essential to efforts to revitalize the Silver Spring area.
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