Maryland’s top transportation official says he’s found a way to cut the cost of building the estimated $2.45 billion Purple Line by $200 million to $300 million.
State Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn on Wednesday told The Washington Post he will present construction cost savings totally nearly 10 percent to Gov. Larry Hogan in the next week.
Hogan, who has said the Purple Line is too expensive, is deciding whether to proceed with the 16-mile light rail project that would run between Bethesda and New Carrollton.
Rahn also told the Post his agency has found ways to reduce long-term operating and maintenance costs, previously estimated at $55 million. Rahn said construction savings would come by changing when the state would have to pay the team of private concessionaires chosen to build and operate the light rail.
Hogan is expected to make a decision on the future of the project this month.
The state has a $900 million funding commitment from the federal government and a private partner, yet to selected, could front $600 million to $1 billion for construction costs. The state would have to pay back that amount over a 30-year period.
According to sources, Maryland Transit Administration officials told Montgomery County officials in late April that the state wants to cut about $175 million from its share of the project. The state is expected to spend between $300 million and $700 million.
The state is also looking to shift $100 million of the project’s costs to two local jurisdictions. Montgomery County and Prince George’s County are already expected to pitch in $110 million each for Purple Line construction. Montgomery has also committed to paying another $100 million to build a new Capital Crescent Trail along the light rail route.
Wednesday’s news came after Rahn met with County Executive Ike Leggett and County Councilmembers Roger Berliner and George Leventhal.
According to The Washington Post the three took a bus tour of the county that included Bethesda, White Flint and the Shady Grove area.
Berliner tweeted that Rahn is “a straight shooter,” and that Rahn hopes to get a decision on the Purple Line next week from Hogan.
