The decision also greatly jeopardizes the project’s chances at $900 million in federal construction grants and threatens a $5.6 billion public-private partnership. Congress has appropriated $325 million toward the Purple Line. The Purple Line was five days away from securing such an agreement in August, when Leon’s earlier ruling made it ineligible. While the Purple Line wouldn’t be part of the Metro system, more than a quarter of its passengers are expected to come from people riding Metro. The judge said he will rule in a few weeks on a couple dozen other legal arguments that the plaintiffs made criticizing the Purple Line’s environmental impacts.

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2017 16:48 UTC