Construction on Maryland's Purple Line light-rail line can keep moving forward, after a federal appeals court ruled the state doesn't have to update an environmental study.
A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit made the ruling on Tuesday.
Judge Judith Rogers wrote that opponents to the 16-mile light rail failed to prove that falling ridership on Metro would affect the Purple Line's ridership projections.
Construction began in August after another three-judge panel ruled construction could move ahead while the appeal was pending.
The Purple Line will extend from Bethesda to New Carrollton in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
There are 21 stations planned. It will connect to MARC, Amtrak and bus service. The line is scheduled to open in 2022.
