Cost overruns could increase on Maryland’s Purple Line by $60 million

The Purple Line, which would run through the University of Maryland’s campus, could potentially cost $60 million more than previous projections, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The Purple Line Transit Partners — a group of private companies responsible for the Purple Line’s construction and funding — said the Maryland Transit Administration’s request to accelerate construction to finish by March 2023 instead of June 2024 will add $60 million to project costs.

This is the second projected overrun to the Purple Line’s budget. In November, the Purple Line Transit Partners reported a budget overrun of $215 million to deal with costs from a federal lawsuit aimed at stopping the project and acquiring property.

[Read more: The Purple Line will make UMD’s Campus Drive a permanent one-way street]

The line, a 16-mile light rail, is now almost a year behind the originally scheduled March 2022 opening, and further legal battles could delay the project even more.

The overruns can be traced back to setbacks in the last two years due to lawsuits, permit delays and potential interference with area utilities and freight rail lines.

Pete Rahn, the state’s transportation secretary, told The Post the state disagrees with the dollar amount PLTP insists is owed to them, and added there may be another court claim filed to settle the dispute.

[Read more: Purple Line construction continues as UMD postpones new parking garage]

“We haven’t agreed to any of these claims,” he said. “If we owe them money, it’s for vastly different amounts than what they’re making a claim for.”

A Purple Line Transit Partners spokesperson referred requests for comment by The Post to state transportation officials.

Purple Line construction expanded in the last couple of months on the university’s campus, with sections of sidewalk near Cole Field House and St. Mary’s Hall blocked off for utility work and station construction. This work will continue through the spring semester, in addition to construction on Rossborough Lane and Campus Drive near University Boulevard.