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Tobias Barreto
Campus Drive–UMD | |||||||||||
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 The station under construction in August 2024 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | Campus Drive at Library Lane College Park, Maryland | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°59′14″N 76°56′45″W / 38.98736°N 76.94580°W | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Maryland Transit Administration | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | None | ||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opening | 2027 (scheduled)[1] | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Campus Drive–UMD station is an under-construction light rail station in College Park, Maryland, that will be served by the Purple Line. The station will be one of five stations serving the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). It will have two side platforms on opposite sides of Campus Drive west of Library Lane, just south of Cole Field House.[2][3]
History
Construction of the station began in 2019 with the removal of trees surrounding the path of the line through campus and the conversion of Campus Drive to a one-way street to create room for the tracks and related infrastructure.[4] In January 2020, lead contractor Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) announced that the eastern half of the line from College Park to New Carrollton would open in late 2022, with the remainder scheduled for completion in June 2023.[5] At the same time, construction of the infrastructure surrounding the station continued with the relocation of UMD's "M" Circle" from a traffic circle on Campus Drive to a site on the roadside to allow for the demolition of the circle to make way for Purple Line tracks. Following completion of the new circle in September 2020, all Purple Line construction was paused due to a dispute between PLTP and the state over $800 million in unpaid cost overruns. PLTP withdrew from the project, forcing the MTA to take over construction of the line while an agreement was reached with a new contractor. As a result, UMD students, staff, and visitors reported difficulty with navigating the campus due to unfinished construction and the associated roadblocks and detours.[6]
The MTA continued to directly manage construction of the line until June 26, 2022, when Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS) were approved as the new lead contractor. At the same time, MTS and the MTA announced that completion would be delayed from March 2022 to fall 2026 to allow for the entire line to be completed at once. A UMD spokesperson also announced that the university was advocating for construction on campus to be completed as soon as possible despite the significant delay.[7] After the agreement with MTS, construction on campus ramped back up, with additional construction-related closures and detours along the line's route. This included the closure of three out of the five entrances to the primary on-campus lot for commuter students in January 2023, leading to congestion, a lack of spaces, and confused drivers and pedestrians.[8] In Summer 2024, concerns over noise pollution from heavier construction on Campus Drive led UMD to close several dorms that were the closest to the construction.[9]
By May 2024, construction on the UMD campus was expected to be complete by the end of 2024, though service would not begin until December 2027.[10]
References
- ^ Shaver, Katherine (January 26, 2022). "Md. board approves $3.4 billion contract to complete Purple Line". The Washington Post.
- ^ "University Blvd Adelphi Rd - Univ M" (PDF). Maryland Purple Line. Maryland Transit Administration. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "Campus Drive - UMD". Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ Condon, Christine (April 24, 2019). "After construction delays, the Purple Line development team has a new CEO". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Barthel, Margaret (January 17, 2020). "The Purple Line Is Chugging Along: Here's What You Need To Know". WAMU. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Truss-Williams, Anaya (October 2, 2020). "A pause on Purple Line construction adds to unfinished projects at UMD". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Vuttaluru, Shreya (February 7, 2022). "Purple Line construction set to ramp up this spring under new contractor". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Byrne, Bridget (March 6, 2023). "Purple Line construction frustrates UMD commuters who park in Lot 1". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Abdel-Motagaly, Sumaya (March 14, 2024). "UMD community concerned about Purple Line construction's environmental, health impacts". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Glaros, Lillian (May 10, 2024). "UMD construction updates: Major Purple Line construction likely to finish in fall 2024". The Diamondback. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
External links
Media related to Campus Drive–UMD station at Wikimedia Commons