When Purple Line light rail vehicles first ran under live wire between Lyttonsville and Bethesda in July, the Maryland Transit Administration said overnight testing would last only the first week before moving to weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The University Boulevard advisory works the other way. Testing from Riggs Road Station to Long Branch Station was set to begin on or about November 7, 2026. Trains may run nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., with police or traffic control crews holding traffic along University Boulevard while they pass.
The difference comes from where the track sits. Bethesda's trains run on their own corridor. On University Boulevard, the trains cross the same intersections that lead into the Takoma Langley Crossroads shopping centers. That is why the tests here happen at night, and why the turn limits fall on the entrances people use to shop and eat.
Why University Boulevard gets the night shift
The Purple Line's own updates page explains the Bethesda schedule. Testing there "is limited to dedicated Purple Line tracks and does not interact with traffic." Most of it happens between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., though a train can move at any hour. When the line's track crosses public streets, testing moves to the overnight hours. Here is how the segments now in testing compare, according to the project's current notices.
| Segment | Testing window | Street impact listed |
|---|---|---|
| Lyttonsville to Bethesda | Mostly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | None; dedicated track that does not interact with traffic |
| Lyttonsville Station to Dixon Avenue | Nightly, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Holds at Stewart Avenue and Ramsey Avenue |
| Annapolis Road to New Carrollton | Nightly, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Holds at three intersections plus Ellin Road driveways; Emerson Place closed nightly at Ellin Road |
| College Park-UMD to Adelphi Road-UMGC-UMD | Nightly, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. | Trains travel through intersections with police or traffic control support |
| Riggs Road to Long Branch | Nightly, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Holds at six locations; right-turn-only at eight more |
Lyttonsville to Dixon Avenue lists two crossings, and New Carrollton lists three intersections and a set of driveways. The Riggs Road to Long Branch advisory lists 14 locations with some kind of restriction. Most of that is on a single road, University Boulevard.
The two lists in the advisory
The advisory sorts its intersections into two groups, and each one affects a different kind of trip.
Traffic holds of up to 15 minutes
- University Boulevard at New Hampshire Avenue
- University Boulevard at Takoma Langley Transit Center
- University Boulevard at Carroll Avenue
- University Boulevard at Piney Branch Road
- University Boulevard at Lebanon Street
- Piney Branch Road at Arliss Street
Right turns only during testing
- University Boulevard at 15th Avenue, 14th Avenue, East Shopping Center, West Shopping Center, Merrimac Drive and Seek Lane
- Piney Branch Road at Barron Street and Garland Avenue
The first list affects through traffic. If you take New Hampshire Avenue home after a late shift, you could wait at the light while a train clears the junction with University Boulevard. The second list affects shorter trips. Both the East Shopping Center and West Shopping Center entrances are right-turn-only during testing, so you can't turn left into or out of either one. If a store you need is across the boulevard from you, plan on a longer loop.
Emergency vehicle access is maintained throughout. Crews will manage pedestrian crossings, though the advisory says walkers may face brief delays while trains pass. The advisory also says weather and unforeseen conditions can change the schedule, and testing "may occur" nightly rather than every night.
What a late errand on the Crossroads looks like now
The Takoma Langley Crossroads Development Authority's business directory shows why the shopping center entrances matter. Restaurants listed in the district include San Alejo, Asados 5 Estrellas, Baleadas Express, Pupuseria El Comalito, Tony's Villa, Caribbean Palace and Tijuana Mexican Cafe. Grocery listings include Red Apple Farmers Market, ALDI, Megamart Latino Supermarket, The Caribbean Market, International Meat Market & Grocery, Halal Meat Market and Angkor Supermarket.
None of these businesses is closed by the testing. The changes affect how you get in and out. After 9 p.m. on a testing night, you may need to approach a shopping center from the side that allows a right turn. If you're crossing University Boulevard at Carroll Avenue or New Hampshire Avenue, you may also wait up to 15 minutes for a hold to clear.
If you're on foot, the Purple Line's testing and safety guidance is short and specific. Crews will install electronic message signs before testing begins. Operators will use horns and bells from time to time while they test acceleration and braking at different speeds. Pedestrians and scooter or bike riders should use crosswalks and follow posted signs. Treat every overhead power wire as energized and dangerous. The same page says the vehicles "are quiet, producing about the same noise level as cars and trucks." On a boulevard this busy, you may not hear a train coming.
Long Branch, at the end of the test run
The testing segment ends at Long Branch Station. On Piney Branch Road, the right-turn-only limits at Barron Street and Garland Avenue reach into Long Branch's commercial blocks. The neighborhood gained a new title this summer. As Source of the Spring reported in July 2026, Long Branch is now an official Main Street Maryland community. It is the second in Montgomery County, after Old Takoma, which was among the state's first designees in 1998.
The designation builds on work the Montgomery Housing Partnership has led in Long Branch since 2011. The same report lists pedestrian improvements, outdoor stages and eating areas, murals, a neighborhood print newspaper, the restored Flower Theatre façade, and a commercial space the partnership bought that is slated for a coffee shop. The district's efforts now receive state funding under the designation. The partnership runs them with the Long Branch Business League, and Montgomery County Government, Montgomery Parks, the Cafritz Foundation and Purple Line Transit Partners also support the work. Purple Line Transit Partners is the state's private-sector partner on the line.
The state recognized Long Branch in July, about four months before the advisory's November 7 test start date for this segment. The Montgomery Housing Partnership's revitalization work there dates back to 2011.
How close the line is to carrying riders
The University Boulevard tests are part of a larger push. On September 3, 2026, the MTA said construction was 92% complete, with vehicle testing underway on more than half of the 16-mile alignment in both counties. The July release said crews had installed all 1,187 overhead wire poles. In September, senior project director Ray Biggs II said the team expects testing to expand across all 16 miles. The project's FAQ expects passenger service to begin in Winter 2027.
Until then, the businesses along the route can apply for help with construction impacts. The state's Purple Line Small Business Grant Program is putting $4 million over four years, from 2025 through 2028, into eligible businesses within a quarter mile of the alignment. It offers direct grants of up to $50,000. Lily's Nail Salon on University Boulevard East in Takoma Langley Crossroads was recently selected for a grant, Source of the Spring reported in July 2026.
To know which nights trains are on your stretch, sign up for text or email construction alerts through purplelinemd.com, or contact the outreach team at [email protected] or 443-451-3706.
The Purple Line's arrival will change everyday routines along University Boulevard and Piney Branch Road, and our team follows those changes block by block. If you'd like to talk about what the line means for your home or your next move along the corridor, ONE Residential is glad to help. Schedule a Consultation.
