The Silver Spring Penguin

Though no alignment is final, one thing is for sure: The Purple Line won’t be rolling down Ripley Street.

Mike Madden, project manager for the state transit administration, made the announcement Tuesday night at an al fresco meeting (below) of the Action Committee for Transit, an advocacy group. No reason was given for the scratch.

Mike Madden, of the state transit administration, gives an update on the Purple Line outside the Silver Spring Center Tuesday night. Photo: J. Deseo/SSP.

The Ripley Street route was one of three proposed alignments (below) between East Silver Spring and the future Silver Spring Transit Center. The other two — a street-level route down Bonifant Street, and a deep tunnel beneath Silver Spring Avenue — are still candidates.

Ripley Street (center) is out. Bonifant Street (above) and a tunnel beneath Silver Spring Avenue (below) are still in. Courtesy of MTA.

The proposed light-rail line also would travel along the south side of the CSX rail tracks between Lyttonsville and the transit center, Madden said. Cost effectiveness motivated that decision, he said.

The transit administration plans to meet with community focus groups in October. Preliminary ridership estimates should be ready by November, in time for a slew of public meetings.