FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Communities Invited to Host Scale Model in 2020

RIVERDALE, MD (December 20, 2019) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has launched a tour of its model Purple Line Light Rail Vehicle (LRV), offering groups the opportunity to host the 7-foot-9-inch display.

“This is a good representation of how the actual train will look,” said Charles Lattuca, 

MDOT MTA Executive Director of Transit Development and Delivery. “The public can see the LRV up close and get a real sense of it transporting them to recreation, jobs, shopping and education.”

The first full-sized Purple Line LRV is undergoing testing in Elmira, N.Y., and will be delivered for local testing to Maryland in late 2020. Measuring 140 feet, the train will be the longest light rail vehicle of its kind in the country. A total of 26 trains will run on the 16-mile Purple Line system. Each vehicle will have capacity for more than 400 passengers and will be equipped with 80 passenger seats, bike racks, and dedicated disability accessible space.

The Purple Line is a light rail system that will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. It will provide a direct connection to the Metrorail Red, Green, Yellow and Orange lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line also will connect to MARC, Amtrak, and local bus services.

The model LRV, 1/20 the length of the actual light rail vehicle, is usually housed at Purple Line headquarters in Riverdale. After recently being displayed at Montgomery County’s Silver Spring Library, it now moves to the New Carrollton branch of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, where it will remain for several weeks.

“Our visitors have relished seeing the model LRV up close,” said Uzoma Onyemaechi, Silver Spring Library Branch Manager. “It has an educational component, so young and old can learn about a system that’s on track to make mobility easier. I think other communities will enjoy displaying the model LRV as well.”

The Purple Line LRV model will continue on tour in 2020. Groups interested in hosting the display can contact the Purple Line Outreach office at [email protected]. Project staff can coordinate transport and set up the model. 

MDOT MTA is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States. In addition to developing the Purple Line, MDOT MTA operates LocalLink and commuter buses, Light RailLink, Metro SubwayLink, MARC Train service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. MDOT MTA’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mdot.maryland.gov, mta.maryland.gov, or purplelinemd.com/en/.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Gary Witherspoon
Office: 240-825-4629
Cell: 443-801-4318    
[email protected] 

Brittany Marshall
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 443-970-0424
[email protected]