An environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared for Maryland's proposed Purple Line light rail transit extension has received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Environmental Document Preparation in the EIS category recognizes environmental documents that exemplify best practices for a well-managed environmental documentation process, comply with prevailing requirements and expectations, and reduce paperwork.

The award was presented to Maryland Transit Partners, a joint venture of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, AECOM and RK&K that serves as program management consultant to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff has held key roles since the project’s initiation in 2003, particularly for planning, travel forecasting, public involvement, and most recently, the public-private partnership (P3) procurement process.

The MTA’s Purple Line is a 16-mile, 21-station light rail line in the northern Washington D.C. suburbs. A circumferential rail transit line linking an existing radial system, the Purple Line will connect key activity centers, four branches of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system, and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

In selecting the Purple Line EIS as winner of the award, the FTA stated: “The Purple Line EIS exemplifies best practices for a well-managed environmental documentation process.  FTA is pleased to recognize your efforts in producing this effective and practical environmental document.  The review committee was particularly impressed with the presentation of information, including the use of reader-friendly language, graphics and tables, while successfully resolving complicated environmental issues.”