On Thursday, September 24, the Maryland Transit Administration parked one of its Purple Line railcars at the Baltimore Avenue stop, just south of the Hotel at the University of Maryland. Gov. Wes Moore asked for the visit so attendees of the World Quantum Congress at the hotel could see the car. University of Maryland President Darryll Pines stopped at the purple tent and joked that he wanted to drive one of the trains once it's ready. Staff handed out flyers and small foam models of the railcar.
That daytime visit was unusual. According to Hyattsville Wire, Purple Line drivers run their tests in Montgomery County during the day and in Prince George's County at night. Over the next several months, people along the Route 1, Riverdale Road and New Carrollton stretch will mostly meet the line two ways: as a railcar crossing an intersection late at night, and as the detours still in place during the day.
The Schedule Behind the Headlights
The Purple Line's updates page lists a separate testing window for each Prince George's County segment. Police or traffic control staff support the trains at each one.
| Segment | Nightly window | Type of testing | What drivers and walkers see |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Park–UMD to Adelphi Road UMGC–UMD | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. | Advanced dynamic testing | Crossings managed by staff, brief delays as trains pass |
| Veterans Parkway (MD 410) to College Park–UMD, through Riverdale Park | 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Advanced live-wire testing | Trains moving through intersections with traffic control |
| Annapolis Road to New Carrollton | 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Systems testing | Traffic holds of up to 15 minutes at listed intersections |
The New Carrollton segment asks the most of anyone driving late. Holds of up to 15 minutes can happen at Annapolis Road and Veterans Parkway, at Veterans Parkway and Ellin Road, at Ellin Road and Hanson Oaks Drive, and at driveways along Ellin Road. Emerson Place at Ellin Road closes every night during the testing period. In College Park, the notice says emergency vehicles keep access and pedestrian crossings are managed, with brief delays as cars pass.
What the Day Shift Left Behind
Daytime is quieter on the rails, but the street changes from construction are still in place. Track installation is done. In August, Hyattsville Wire reported that crews had moved on to repaving streets and sidewalks and had installed or replaced more than 17 miles of sidewalk along the line. Some closures still have months left on them:
- Kenilworth Avenue (MD 201), between River Road and East-West Highway: work continues through fall 2026. All on-street parking has been removed, and parked vehicles are towed at the owner's expense.
- Rittenhouse Street at Kenilworth Avenue: the crossing stays closed and Rittenhouse is right-turn-only through fall 2026. A pedestrian crossing remains open.
- 66th Avenue at Riverdale Road: closed through the end of 2026 while the intersection, curbs and sidewalks are rebuilt.
- Ellin Road: one lane in each direction between Hanson Oaks Drive and Emerson Place from about September 14 through October 20, 2026. A separate closure between Harkins Road and Emerson Place stays in place through the end of 2026.
- College Park–UMD Station: pedestrian detours for MARC and Metro riders may come and go near the station site.
- Glenridge Shopping Center: the entrance from Veterans Parkway stays closed through construction and testing, which is expected to run through the end of 2027. The project directs shoppers to the Annapolis Road entrances.
The Glenridge closure runs the longest. Construction is expected to finish by the end of this year, but the entrance closure is set to last about another year after that, because the site gives vehicles access to the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility.
How Far Along It Is, and What's Left
The completion figures have climbed slowly this year. Hyattsville Wire reported the line at more than 87 percent complete in January 2026 and nearly 90 percent in March. In a September 3, 2026 release, the Maryland Transit Administration put construction at 92 percent complete, with light-rail vehicle testing underway on more than half of the 16-mile route in both counties. The project's September 2026 newsletter gives a higher number for live-wire testing, more than 70 percent of the route. It also says crews finished final paving on roadways over the summer. The two figures describe different measures in documents released a few weeks apart, so the wider live-wire coverage may simply reflect the later count.
The next step changes what late-night drivers will see. In August, Hyattsville Wire reported that end-to-end testing is planned for early next year, with trains passing each other in both directions. The project's milestones page lists end-to-end system training for spring 2027 and passenger service for winter 2027. Hyattsville Wire's September 24 report describes first riders in late winter 2027. These are the agency's targets, not fixed dates.
Senior Project Director Ray Biggs II said the team expects "significant completion of Purple Line construction this year and expansion of live wire light rail vehicle testing across all 16 miles of the east-to-west alignment." Anyone who wants to ask about a particular intersection can join the fall Community Advisory Team meetings. All seven are virtual, held between October 13 and 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Where the Line Shows Up in Daylight
Before the September 24 preview, Purple Line staff had been regulars at street fairs and farmers markets along the route for some time. October brings two of the corridor's biggest community weekends.
Saturday, October 3. College Park Day runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive. The program includes three stages, inflatables, carnival-style games, a helicopter fly-in, more than 20 artists in Artist Alley, and free admission to the museum. Local restaurants, food trucks and breweries will be there. The organizers note free parking, free shuttles from select locations, bike racks, and a short walk from the College Park–UMD Metro station on the Green Line. That station is also where the College Park nightly testing segment begins. Greenbelt Unidos runs the same afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. at 6220 Springhill Drive, with food vendors, live music and games.
Saturday, October 10. The county's free Green Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at David C. Driskell Community Park, 3911 Hamilton Street in Hyattsville, with food trucks and Pawchella pet adoptions. Greenbelt's Fall Fest and Annual Pumpkin Festival is listed for October 10 at Schrom Hills Park, 6915 Hanover Parkway. Fall activities and pumpkin carving run from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by a pumpkin walk from 6 to 9 p.m. This year the walk has three locations, and the city says more details will be posted in early October. The city's page labels the day both Saturday and Friday, so check the event listing before you go.
New Places Opening Along the Route
Several businesses and public spaces near future stations have opened ahead of the trains.
Duck Donuts held its grand opening on September 19 at 4360 Knox Road, in the Union on Knox. The shop makes and customizes donuts to order. Across from College Park Metro, Glassbox Padel at 4928 College Avenue has four outdoor courts and online booking.
In Riverdale Park, the Ravenswood Community Forest at 4702 Ravenswood Road opened earlier this year as a green space focused on pollinators. On Route 1, the directory for The Station at Riverdale Park lists Whole Foods Market, Denizens Brewing Co., Call Your Mother Deli, District Taco, Burtons Grill & Bar and Gold's Gym. The development also includes a playground and a section of the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. Crews have been finishing the street level of the Riverdale Park–Kenilworth Station on the same stretch where Kenilworth Avenue parking remains off-limits through the fall.
If you live near the line and are wondering how a future station, a nearby closure, or a renovation you've been putting off fits your plans, Brandon Foy and the Sproost Properties team can go through the Purple Line timeline with you and talk through what makes sense for your home and budget. Let's Get You Started.
