Construction of Maryland’s long-awaited Purple Line light rail is steadily moving forward, with officials from the Maryland Transit Administration reporting that the project is now nearly three-quarters complete. That may come as a surprise to anyone passing through parts of the 16-mile corridor between Bethesda and New Carrollton, where torn-up roads and missing tracks still give the impression of a work far from finished.

“It might be hard to believe if you’re looking at some parts of the 16-mile light rail route between Bethesda and New Carrollton, where the streets are still torn up and there aren’t even tracks in place yet,” the report acknowledges. But despite surface appearances, major milestones are being achieved behind the scenes and out of public view.

To help bridge that perception gap, the Maryland Transit Administration recently posted photo albums of the Purple Line’s ongoing construction to its website. The imagery showcases bridges being built, stations taking shape, and track beds being prepared across multiple counties.

“They’re a reminder that progress can seem really slow from day to day, but it’s all adding up to something really big,” one update noted. The agency hopes the visuals will give residents confidence that the $9.3 billion project is on track—despite years of delays, lawsuits, and contractor changes that have plagued it since breaking ground in 2017.

Currently, trains are expected to begin carrying passengers by winter 2027, though some test runs are expected to start much sooner.

“We’ll hopefully get to ride the Purple Line in winter 2027, though if you’re on Veterans Parkway in New Carrollton, you’ll soon see trains doing test runs,” officials said.

The 16-mile Purple Line will connect key transit hubs, including the Metro’s Red, Green, and Orange Lines, as well as MARC and Amtrak stations. Once operational, the line is expected to significantly reduce travel times and improve access across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, especially for commuters currently reliant on cars or bus routes.

Though there’s still a long way to go, these photo updates serve as tangible proof that construction is progressing. For those curious about the full route or interested in seeing more of the project’s evolution, the MTA provides an interactive map and frequent updates on their Purple Line website.

Stay tuned for more developments as Maryland’s largest transit project in decades continues to come together, one stretch of track at a time.

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Originally reported by Dan Reed in GG Washington.