The Washington Post "Dr. Gridlock" blog, 7/9:
Purple Line bid deadline pushed back to November
Companies bidding to build a light-rail Purple Line in the Washington suburbs will have to submit their proposals by Nov. 17, and Maryland officials said Thursday they hope to choose a winner early next year.
If the state Board of Public Works approves a public-private partnership with the winning team, construction could begin soon after a deal is scheduled to be finalized in late spring, state officials said.
The agency pushed back the mid-August deadline to allow the four teams of private companies competing for the project time to incorporate the state’s recent cost-cutting changes to the project. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® announced in late June that he would move forward with the 16-mile rail line under certain conditions, including if the project’s estimated $2.45 billion cost could be cut and the state’s contribution of upfront cash lowered from about $700 million to $168 million.
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