The Purple Line’s saving grace was also the reason why it has gone over budget and been delayed once again.

Since its launch in 2015, the 16.2-mile light rail transit project that will run through parts of Riverdale Park and College Park has repeatedly seen construction delays and cost overruns, most recently with the approval of an additional $425 million.

Some of those were due to unforeseen circumstances: lawsuits from Chevy Chase residents, logistical difficulties with drilling in unexpectedly hard rock and a pandemic that affected both workers and the supply chain.

But another major factor is the public-private partnership that was created to develop the project.

The idea behind the partnership was that the state could cut its contribution by working with a private company that would be incentivized to keep costs down. The partnership was a key reason why the Hogan and Trump administrations didn’t kill the Purple Line when they took office, since they saw it as a model for future projects.

But the end result was that more of the cost was pushed onto Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, one private partner bailed on the project and the state has had to pitch in to cover cost overruns anyway.

The light rail line, which was supposed to be already running trains by now, is now scheduled to open in late 2027.

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