What is the Purple Line?

        The Inner Purple Line is a proposed light rail Metro line that will run parallel to the Capital Beltway. It will connect suburban communities and job centers, providing a quality alternative to driving on the congested Beltway. The line would serve the town centers of Bethesda, Silver Spring, Langley Park, College Park and New Carrollton, with two stops on the University of Maryland campus.  It will tie together four Metro lines and three MARC commuter lines.

        By linking major suburban centers and existing rail and bus lines, the Bethesda-to-New Carrollton light rail line will cut travel time for tens of thousands of area residents. For example, travel time from Langley Park to Bethesda will drop to about 15 minutes, far faster than is possible today by car or by bus.

        In the future, the Purple Line could be extended westward to Tysons Corner and eastward to Largo. A second segment could cross the new Wilson Bridge from Suitland through Oxon Hill to Alexandria, leading eventually to a rail line that encircles the city.