Along most of the alignment the Purple Line is being designed on existing roadways to minimize impacts to local communities. As a result, the majority of the potential property acquisitions are narrow strips of land along roadways or parcels required for the two maintenance and storage facilities (one in each county). The MTA has made it a priority to avoid the acquisition of private property where possible, and minimize the acquisitions, where they are unavoidable.

The current Preliminary Engineering and Final Environmental Impact Statement (PE/FEIS) phase is when we carry out studies to evaluate in much greater detail where the alignment might best be located and how it can be designed to avoid or minimize impacts, including property impacts. The purpose is to assess, compare, and balance impacts and benefits of specific design details. The project is still in the early design phase so the actual number and extent of property needs are preliminary estimates and are continually being refined and changed as design advances.

At this time there is no funding for construction of any alignment. Once the project receives the Record of Decision that completes the federal environmental review process, receives federal and State funding for construction, and has definitively established specific property requirements, MTA can begin the acquisition process. This process could begin in the Final Design phase, 2014 at the earliest. The real estate acquisition process ensures that residents and businesses are not condemned before the alignment has completed preliminary engineering, the impacts have been published in a Final Environmental Impact Statement, and approval by the Federal Transit Administration has been received.

View a summary of federal and state real estate acquisition process

With regard to communication with property owners, MTA has reached out to individual property owners via phone or mail and typically a meeting has been held to describe the project, potential property needs, project schedule, and the federal and State process involved if the project were to move ahead. Whenever we are meeting out in a community, our drawings identify the estimated potential property acquisitions and we answer any questions from residents and businesses regarding
the need for those affected properties. MTA will continue to consult potentially impacted property owners so that their input is considered.

If you have further questions please contact us at purpleline@mta.maryland.gov