U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon doubled down Thursday on his rulings in an ongoing lawsuit that have blocked construction of the Purple Line and said the state has itself to blame for the project’s funding problems.
During a hearing held in Washington, D.C., Leon informed an attorney representing Maryland that the state is responsible for the problems caused by the construction delay because it signed a $5.6 billion contract to build the light-rail line while the lawsuit was working its way through his court.
Leon scheduled the hearing after Maryland officials requested a stay of his previous rulings so it can move forward with the the 16-mile light-rail line project while it appeals Leon’s ruling. The proposed line would connect Bethesda with New Carrollton in Prince George’s County if built.
Leon had vacated the project’s federal approval in August and ordered the state in May to conduct a new supplemental environmental review after agreeing with the plaintiffs that Metro’s recent ridership decline and safety issues should be examined to determine their impact on future Purple Line ridership.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Andrew Metcalf over at Bethesda Magazine