The Montgomery and Prince George's County legislative delegations have joined forces to push for the Purple Line, a light rail transit line that would stretch from Bethesda to New Carrollton.

The new Purple Line Legislative Caucus, made up of state senators and delegates from the respective counties, announced last week it would begin pushing for a Purple Line transit system in the General Assembly.

"We have formed the Purple Line Legislative Caucus to unify Prince George's and Montgomery counties and assert our combined clout and influence in Annapolis," Del. Tawanna Gaines (D-Berwyn Heights) said in a statement. Gaines serves as co-chair of the caucus along with Del. Bill Bronrott (D-Bethesda). Gaines also chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and the Environment, which Bronrott serves on.

The caucus has a following as well. Montgomery County Councilman George Leventhal (D), a founder of Purple Line Now, says the purple line will increase convenience, will be an alternate method of transportation to automobiles, will reduce green house gases and will help end oil dependence.

"It's gonna improve the quality of life for my constituents," Leventhal told PolitickerMD.com.

And although the Purple Line is still in the preliminary planning phase, the governor's office says it has already included funds in the capital budget to begin the planning stages of the project.