Politics · State & local government · published 2026-10-08 · via NOTUS/The Guardian

Purple Line Riders Will Use SmartTrip, CharmPass and Station Vending Machines

Maryland's Purple Line will let riders pay with WMATA SmartTrip cards, the CharmPass app, or cash and credit cards at vending machines at its 21 stations. The light-rail line will run 16 miles from Bethesda to New Carrollton with a flat fare, though the exact price is undecided. Construction is 92% complete, but the opening date remains uncertain and could slip to 2028.

Expanded Detail

Maryland’s Purple Line is planned as a mostly surface-level light-rail route linking Bethesda and New Carrollton. It would cover 16 miles and include 21 stations. Riders would pay a single flat fare rather than a distance-based charge, though the amount is not yet set. Payment options would include WMATA’s SmartTrip card, the Maryland Transit Administration’s CharmPass app, and station vending machines accepting cash or credit cards. There would be no entry or exit faregates.

Construction was 92% finished as of Wednesday, and the last track was installed in spring. The contract targets a Dec. 30, 2027 opening, but MTA’s Ray Biggs told a Montgomery County Council committee Monday that the date remains flexible and might move to 2028.

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “How Payment Will Work on the Upcoming Purple Line.” Browse more stories.