A three-judge appellate panel appeared Wednesday to look for a narrow legal way to allow Purple Line light rail construction to continue in Maryland.
The high-powered panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit pressed attorneys for Maryland, the Federal Transit Administration and opponents of the 16-mile, 21-stop light rail line during arguments over the environmental review of the project.
The appeals court stepped in over the summer to lift a lower court’s ruling that had held up construction by ordering the state and federal government to do an additional environmental review. This came after opponents of the line raised questions about how Metro’s recent ridership decline might impact ridership on the state-backed, privately built and operated Purple Line.
“I think the answer is clear, so I am very hopeful after this hearing,” Greg Sanders, a leader of the advocacy group Purple Line NOW said outside the courthouse.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Max Smith over at WTOP