The Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transit Administration announced on Wednesday that four teams will be invited to submit proposals to design, build, construct, finance, operate and maintain the Purple Line in Montgomery and Prince George's counties through a public-private partnership, or P3.  These teams were selected from the six private-sector teams that responded in early December to a Request for Qualification for this project.

"After careful review and deliberation, I am announcing the decision to move forward with four private teams for this public-private partnership project," said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr.  "These teams clearly demonstrated their qualifications to deliver this important project in their responses to our Request for Qualifications."

The short-listed teams are:

• Maryland Purple Line Partners: VINCI Concessions, Walsh Investors, InfraRed Capital Partners, ALSTOM Transport and Keolis S.A.

• Maryland Transit Connectors: John Laing Investments Limited, Kiewit Development Company and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate LLC

• Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP): Meridiam Infrastructure Purple Line, LLC, Fluor Enterprises, Inc. and Star America Fund GP LLC

• Purple Plus Alliance LLC Proposer: Macquarie Capital Group and Skanska Infrastructure Development Inc.

"We were quite pleased with the overall response," said MTA Administrator Robert L. Smith.  "The interest expressed by so many well-regarded companies is a testament to both the value of the Purple Line as a transportation asset and the power of public-private partnership to deliver value for citizens over a long period."

In spring, MDOT/MTA will issue a request for proposals to the shortlisted teams to submit complete proposals by fall 2014, ensuring competition and innovation. In late 2014 or early 2015, MDOT / MTA will select a preferred partner and recommend the final agreement to the Board of Public Works for its review and approval.  Construction could begin in spring 2015.

In November, the Board of Public Works gave its approval to deliver the Purple Line through a P3. In the P3 delivery method, a single private partner will be responsible for providing private financing to design, construct, operate and maintain the project.

The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail line that runs east-west inside the Capital Beltway between Bethesda in Montgomery County and New Carrollton in Prince George's County with 21 stations planned that will provide direct connections to Metrorail's Orange Line, Green Line and two branches of the Red Line, and the MARC Brunswick, Camden and Penn Lines. The total project cost is $2.2 billion, with the private sector expected to invest between $500 and $900 million.