Phase II Dulles Extension
While construction of Phase I to Wiehle – Reston East is underway, the funding and planning of Phase II through Dulles Airport continues. This includes the adoption of a special taxing district by the Town of Herndon and a public planning forum. In order to address escalations in the projected cost of Phase II, the MWAA Board is considering alternatives to the original plan for an underground station adjacent to the Dulles Airport terminal. Alternatives being considered are an underground station near the airport's north garage about 550 feet (170 m) from the terminal, and above ground stations located either at the present arrival road ramp or at the parking garage. These plans have drawn concerns from the Virginia Historic Preservation Office regarding the visual impact on the Eero Saarinen-designed terminal. Consultants estimate that an above-ground station would save $640 million in construction costs. Early cost estimates for Phase II had been $2.75 billion, however a group of consultants increased the estimate in 2010 from $3.44 billion to $4.1 billion.
On April 6, 2011, the MWAA Board voted 9 to 4 to build an underground station located 550 feet (170 m) from the airport terminal rather than an above-ground station 1,150 feet (350 m) away from the terminal. The underground station would be more convenient to travelers, but would come at an additional cost of $330 million and would extend the construction time of the project, delaying the expected opening to mid-2017. Several Virginia politicians including Governor Bob McDonnell, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Rep. Frank Wolf, and former Congressman Tom Davis oppose the decision to build a more expensive underground station, and have threatened to withhold support for the project and to propose increasing the number of Virginia representatives to the MWAA Board. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has offered to mediate the dispute.
Furthermore, Cuccinelli stated in a radio interview with WMAL that the project is an "economic boondoggle," and "the cost-benefit just is not there." He also stated "I hope elect an entire board who's committed to pulling out of Phase Two to kill it." Additionally, Cuccinelli has concerns over the MWAA labor contract for Phase II, and stated he is prepared to sue MWAA if a "project labor agreement" were in place, for violating Virginia's right to work laws. In November 2011, the MWAA, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Fairfax and Loudoun counties came to a funding agreement to pay for Phase II of the project with federal loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
On March 7, 2012, the projected $3.8 billion cost for Phase II was reduced to $2.7 billion with the elimination of the underground station at Dulles Airport and other savings.
The extension of the Silver Line to Dulles and into Loudoun County was in jeopardy until July 3, 2012, when the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 to extend the line to Dulles Airport and into the county.
Read more about this topic: Silver Line (Washington Metro)
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