Purple Line light rail vehicle unveiled in Maryland months after opening delayed to winter 2027

HYATTSVILLE, Md. - Officials unveiled the first Purple Line light rail vehicle Thursday, several months after Maryland officials delayed the opening of the transit line to the winter of 2027.

The 142-foot-long vehicle was displayed at a Prince George’s County facility in Hyattsville. Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, MTA Administrator Holly Arnold, and other officials celebrated the milestone.

Purple Line delayed 'til winter 2027, costs soar to $10 billion

The Purple Line project is being pushed back again and some business owners impacted by the construction said the project continues to cost them money, too. FOX 5's Josh Rosenthal has the story.

In March, officials announced that the 16-mile light rail project connecting Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties will open in the winter of 2027, five years later than initially planned.

"This project is critical to the region. It is going to be a game changer when it opens, and we’re really just pushing through this period to get to that point," Arnold told FOX 5 at the time.

Altogether, the project will now cost about $10 billion, despite being initially budgeted for $5.6 billion back in 2016.

Purple Line construction impacting Silver Spring businesses

Business owners in downtown Silver Spring say construction on the Purple Line is threatening their companies. The concerns arrive amid ongoing and delayed construction on the Maryland Transit Administration's long-awaited project. FOX 5's Tisha Lewis has all the details.