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Campus Drive–UMD station is an under-construction
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. 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. 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.
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. 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. In Summer 2024, concerns over
light rail
Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...
station in College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located approximately from the northeast border of Washington, D.C. Its population was 34,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the home of the University of Mary ...
, that will be served by the Purple Line. The station will be one of five stations serving the University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD i ...
(UMD). It will have two side platform
A side platform (also known as a marginal platform or a single-face platform) is a platform positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station, tram stop, or transitway. A station having dual side platforms, ...
s on opposite sides of Campus Drive west of Library Lane, just south of Cole Field House
The Jones-Hill House is an indoor collegiate sports training complex located on of land on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, a suburb north of Washington, D.C. Jones-Hill House is situated in the center of the campu ...
.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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. In Summer 2024, concerns over noise pollution
Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potential harmful effects on humans and animals. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport and propagation systems.Senate Publi ...
from heavier construction on Campus Drive led UMD to close several dorms
A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm), also known as a hall of residence, a residence hall (often abbreviated to halls), or a hostel, is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential qu ...
that were the closest to the construction.
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.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campus Drive-UMD station Purple Line (Maryland) Railway stations scheduled to open in 2027 Transportation in Prince George's County, Maryland Railway stations in Prince George's County, Maryland University of Maryland, College Park facilities Railway stations in Maryland at university and college campuses