The Purple Line - the much anticipated light rail line that will connect Washington DC's Maryland suburbs - has moved forward in its construction as it's reached another key milestone.
Earlier this month, theMaryland Transit Administration announced live-wire testing had begun in Montgomery County, Maryland's most populous county.
All rail tracks had been installed as of early May, and officials called the testing "a significant step forward for the project."
But when will the Purple Line open? It's a question that's been asked since work began nearly a decade ago, and we're now inching closer toward its completion.
Here's what we know about when the Purple Line will be open.
Purple Line progress update: When will construction be complete?
The Purple Line is 90% complete, officials said this month, and the recent
live rail testing is spanning 2.5 miles through Lyttonsville, Chevy Chase and Bethesda.
In a statement to USA TODAY, the Maryland Transit Administration said that by the end of 2026, the Purple Line will have reached "substantial completion on construction elements."
Beginning in 2027, construction will give way to full-scale testing of the rail line's integrated systems.
"System integration testing is among the most complex and challenging stages of delivering any new rail line as it requires every component – from signals to communications systems, to train controls to vehicles – to operate safely as one fully integrated network," officials told USA TODAY.
The contractual date for the Purple Line's opening remains Dec. 30, 2027, but officials said that date could be adjusted if additional testing is needed before the rail line opens.
What is the Purple Line?
"The Purple Line is a light rail line powered by an overhead catenary system that can operate on the surface of roadways where vehicles and pedestrians can easily cross over its tracks," according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.This means the Purple Line will run alongside traffic or in a separate right-of-way, whereas the Metro is separated from cars and pedestrians. Only short sections of the new line will be elevated or underground.
Officials describe light rail transit as "an electric railway system characterized by its ability to operate single cars or short trains along rights-of-way at ground level, on aerial structures and in tunnels."
The Purple Line says it will operate trains in both directions every 7.5 minutes during peak periods and every 10-12 minutes in off-peak hours. Officials project daily ridership of about 60,000 passengers.
Each 140-foot-long train can carry up to 431 passengers, including seating for 80.
Mike Stunson is a Washington DC-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and DMV related for USA TODAY's DC Connect Team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Maryland's Purple Line still on track to open in 2027?
