Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents can question the Purple Line team at a virtual community meeting on Oct. 28. The session is part of a seven-meeting fall series the project announced on X on Monday, Oct. 5.

The Bethesda/Chevy Chase meeting runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It is one of seven Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is holding this fall along the 16-mile light rail corridor. Eight CAT groups exist along the route; the MTA schedules the meetings twice a year. The sessions give residents a chance to hear construction updates and ask questions as the Purple Line moves toward a Winter 2027 opening.

CAT meetings are open to the public, though CAT members get priority during the question-and-answer portion, according to the Purple Line's public meetings page. Members include neighborhood and civic association representatives, business groups and local government officials. Purple Line NOW reported that the MTA's outreach team plans to send reminders and an invitation to pre-submit questions before each session.

The full fall schedule includes six other sessions across Montgomery and Prince George's counties: Oct. 13 (Lyttonsville/Woodside), Oct. 15 (College Park), Oct. 20 (University Boulevard), Oct. 21 (Long Branch), Oct. 22 (Silver Spring) and Oct. 27 (Riverdale Park/New Carrollton/Glenridge). All sessions are virtual, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Construction near Bethesda continues on several fronts. Crews are conducting live-wire testing of light rail vehicles between the Lyttonsville Operations and Maintenance Facility and Bethesda Station, with trains potentially moving at any hour, according to the Purple Line project updates page. Work at the Elm Street site involves waterproofing and concrete placement. Construction also continues at the Connecticut Avenue station, along the former Georgetown Branch Trail between Elm Street Park and Rock Creek Park, and in the Jones Mill Road underpass area.

Pedestrian access between Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street remains closed. The detour routes pedestrians via Wisconsin Avenue crossings at Elm Street and Waverly Street, then west on Hampden Lane to Woodmont Avenue.

Gov. Wes Moore installed the final segment of Purple Line rail at the future 16th Street–Woodside Station in May, and the MTA began live-wire vehicle testing in July, according to the Purple Line newsroom.

Residents with questions can contact the MTA outreach team at [email protected] or (443) 451-3706, or (443) 451-3705 for Spanish. Virtual meeting links will be posted on the Purple Line events page before each session.