Skip to main content
Purple Line alignment map

The Purple Line

The Purple Line is a light rail line that will extend from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Silver Spring and Bethesda in Montgomery County. Five of the twenty-one stations will be located directly on or around the UMD campus (click here for the Purple Line path through campus). With direct connections to Metrorail, Amtrak, and MARC, the Purple Line will provide more accessible and reliable transportation for students, faculty, and staff. The Purple Line is scheduled to begin carrying passengers in December 2027. 

The university worked with the Maryland Department of Transportation, the project owner, to accelerate major construction in the core of campus, which was completed in August 2024, a year ahead of the previous schedule. As minor construction continues, the Purple Line construction work will be much less impactful in the heart of campus in the 2024-2025 academic year than it was last year. Major construction continues to the east and west of the campus core.

Important Safety Information 

Micromobility Rider and Wheelchair User Rail Safety

Campus Road Closure and Detour Information

Campus Construction Notices

Questions or concerns about the Purple Line on campus? 

Contact UMD Purple Line team:
purpleline@umd.edu

Note: All pedestrian detours for the Purple Line are required to be ADA accessible. If, due to a permanent or temporary disability, the Purple Line construction presents a barrier to you, please contact purpleline@umd.edu. You may also contact the UMD ADA/504 Coordinator at: adacoordinator@umd.edu.

For the current accessible route please go to the Campus Map and select the "Directions" tab, enter your "Start" and "Destination" locations and then click the "Accessible Pathways" checkbox to see accessible campus routes.

Contact MTA Purple Line team for construction concerns:
443-451-3706
outreach@purplelinemd.com

The new "M"
Photo of the new landscaped M. In preparation the Purple Line, which will offer the UMD community easy access to the surrounding region like never before, our beloved M found a new home just across the street from where it stood. 


Additional Information

Maps / Sign Up for Construction Updates


17,000
cars off the road every day
5
stations on or adjacent to campus
4
connections to Metrorail
Back to Top