Rail funding proposal shifts costs to Fairfax, Loudoun
Compromise would save $1B, move Dulles station above ground
by Kali Schumitz, Staff Writer More News
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110708/NEWS/707089738/1117/1117/rail-funding-proposal-shifts-costs-to-fairfax-loudoun&template=fairfaxTimes

A proposal to shave more than $1 billion off the price tag for the Dulles Metrorail extension would mean Fairfax and Loudoun counties would pick up more responsibility for constructing elements of the project.

The funding partners for the Dulles Metrorail extension began reviewing a proposed compromise agreement backed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at meetings this week.

Although it shrinks the shared funding tab from $3.83 billion to about $2.76 billion, Fairfax County would be on the hook for building the Route 28 station, as well as parking garages at the Route 28 and Herndon-Monroe stations, for a total cost of about $241 million.

Fairfax County could cover the costs through public-private partnerships or possibly through low-interest federal or state loans, said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova (D-At Large).

“Our number crunchers in Fairfax County are very busy right now trying to determine how we could do this and provide the board some options,” she said.

The Fairfax board is expected to take up the matter Tuesday in closed session. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority discussed the matter Wednesday in closed sessions at their respective meetings, but neither body took any public action.

As part of the proposed compromise package, Loudoun County also would build three parking garages at its two stations, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority would have to settle for an aboveground station at Dulles International Airport a move that would save $350 to $550 million, depending on which set of numbers one is using for comparison. The Federal Transit Administration is using the higher number.

Other engineering and design changes could save an additional $135 million, according to FTA estimates. Other actions, such as performing value engineering and reducing the number of rail cars purchased for the new rail line, potentially could reduce the cost estimate by as much as $200 million, according to FTA estimates.

Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey (R) disagreed with LaHood’s labeling of the shifted responsibilities as “savings” to project costs.

“The station is going to cost X millions of dollars, period,” he said. “Their assumption is that we can build it for free” through a public-private partnership.

Even in the unlikely event the county does not have to put any cash into a partnership deal, he added, it will be paying in the form of increased density to developers.

“We’re paying for it in firefighters and police officers, in more park space and library space,” Frey said.

He also is concerned that, if the county has to issue general obligation bonds to help pay for rail construction, it will start eating into funding available for other building and renovation projects in the county.

Bulova said public-private partnerships and traditional bonds might not be the only options. The county also could apply for federal loans under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, which would allow the county to defer payments for a longer period of time until, for example, a parking garage began generating revenue through parking fees.

“I think that the approach is a good one, but our board and I need to see more of the details before actually agreeing to all or one of the different locations,” Bulova said. “The devil is in the details. ... It’s important that we look at creative and different ways for making this project affordable for our taxpayers and for motorists who use the Dulles Toll Road.”

Local gov'ts. consider LaHood compromise for Dulles Metro
Wednesday - 7/6/2011, 5:25am ET
The first phase of the Dulles Rail Project is underway in McLean. (WTOP Photo/Adam Tuss) Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=654&sid=2448703


WASHINGTON -- The decision to build the subway underground at Dulles International Airport raised questions because of how much it will cost, and the idea of building an above-ground Metro station is being floated again.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will review a plan on Wednesday to lower costs of the second phase of the Dulles Rail Project, which are now at $3.5 billion. A key to the deal, proposed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, would require the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to reverse track and build the Metro Station at Dulles Airport above ground instead of below ground.

"We're not even going to entertain it if MWAA is not even willing to do the aerial station," says Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York.

The underground station has significantly raised the cost of the overall project.

York says if the aerial station is approved by the Airports Authority, Loudoun County would work out public-private partnerships for parking garages at two stations and Fairfax County would do the same for the entire Route 28 Metro station.

Fairfax County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova says Fairfax County also would be willing to set up a public-private partnership if the plans include an aerial station.

"Everyone will pitch in to try find ways to bring down the cost. MWAA needs to do their part as well," she says.

York says it's up to the Airports Authority to make the next move.

"It's kind of insulting to seem to think that they can just dip their hands into anybody's pocket and not worry about the cost."

The rail extension, being built by the airports authority, is financed in part by the federal government, by special taxing districts in both counties and by tolls on the Dulles Toll Road.

It's not clear if, or when, the airports authority will reconsider the location of the Metro station. The board meets Wednesday.

The Fairfax County Supervisors will review any compromise at a July 12 meeting.

Secretary LaHood has given all sides until July 20 to agree to the deal.

Fairfax Board Chair: LaHood Plan For Dulles Metrorail Looks Promising
Jonathan Wilson
Updated: Jul. 13, 2011 at 7:41 am
http://wamu.org/news/11/07/13/fairfax_board_chair_lahood_plan_for_dulles_metrorail_looks_promising.php

July 13, 2011 - Fairfax County's board of supervisors is still considering a proposal that would end the deadlock over the proposed Metrorail station at Dulles Airport, but Board Chair Sharon Bulova appears optimistic about the latest plan.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which is overseeing the project, wants to build the Metro station at Dulles Airport underground, saying it will be more convenient for passengers and cost less to maintain.

But the underground its a detail that's helped push the initial pricetag for the project to $3.8 billion. Loudoun and Fairfax county leaders are demanding that the plan be revised to something that will cost less.

The new proposal, crafted in part by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, saves $500 million by moving the proposed rail station above ground. It also shifts responsibility for the five planned parking garages away from MWAA, and asks the counties to secure financing for the garages.

LaHood stepped in last month after it appeared that MWAA and the local lawmakers had reached an impasse on funding the station.

After hearing details of the plan Tuesday, Bulova says the new plan certainly has merit.

"When I go back to the secretary on the 20th of July, I think I can indicate that there appears to be interest in the proposal," she says.

Loudoun County supervisors will discuss the new proposal at a July 19 meeting.

Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova outside Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's office last month.

Don't Look To Virginia For More Metrorail Money, McDonnell Says
Virginia Governor says commonwealth will not be offering $150 million to MWAA for Silver Line
By Karen Goff Email the author July 13, 2011
http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/articles/dont-look-to-virginia-for-more-metrorail-money-mcdonnell-says-2

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is looking for ways to make up the cash shortfall to pay for Phase 2 of the Silver Line. They probably should not look to Virginia's commonwealth coffers.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Monday the state would not contribute $150 million to the construction of the rail extension to Dulles International Airport, despite pleas for more money from the board of MWAA.

“At this point, I’m certainly not willing to do that,’’ McDonnell told The Washington Post. “We need to reduce the cost back to the $2.5 billion estimate that we had when this project first started ... We haven’t put a dime of new money on the table, and at this point we don’t have any plans to.”

Last week, the MWAA board met to consider a possible compromise brokered by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that would reduce the cost to below $3 billion. That proposal includes building an above-ground station to save at least $330 million.

Participants in the LaHood talks say Virginia officials have informally suggested that the state would be willing to contribute an additional $150 million. But some some involved in the talks speculate McDonnell won’t commit on new funding until the board agrees to construct an above-ground station.

Phase 2 will run from Reston to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County. Its future has become precarious since MWAA decided the Dulles station should be built underground, adding $300 million to the costs.
Attachments:

Fairfax supervisors wary of LaHood's plan for Dulles rail
By: Leah Fabel | Examiner Staff Writer
07/12/11 4:37 PM
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/07/fairfax-supervisors-wary-lahoods-plan-dulles-rail

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors lodged a big-sibling style complaint on Tuesday when faced with a Dulles Rail funding proposal that would shift significant responsibility onto the county's back: "Why should we have to do more than everyone else?"

The predictable answer came from U.S. Department of Transportation Administrator Peter Rogoff, speaking for Secretary Ray LaHood: "Because we trust you, and because you're the most responsible. Please. We'll make it worth your while. The secretary and I are relying on you."

LaHood's proposal to resolve the impasse over funding for the second phase of the Dulles Rail project does indeed put some added burden on Fairfax, compared to its fellow funding partners — the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Loudoun County.

Fairfax would take on responsibility for funding the Metro station at Route 28, at a cost of $136 million. And it would share with Loudoun County responsibility for building five parking garages near Metro stations, at a shared cost of $235 million.

The airports authority, by contrast, would give up its hoped-for underground Metro station at Dulles International Airport. But while that would save the $3.5 billion project up to $560 million, it wouldn't actually cost the authority anything.

"It's great to be the most inviting person at the table, but that seems to be the only role we're playing on this project," said Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, D-Hunter Mill. "There has to be a role that makes Fairfax not look like the overall player, but rather a larger shared player with others at the table."

Supervisor John Cook, R-Braddock, reiterated his long support for rail to Dulles, but said that as a practical matter, searching for more and more money from taxpayers becomes difficult.

"Every good thing has a point where it becomes to expensive to be good anymore," he said.

Rogoff all but promised substantial help from the federal government to pay for the county's share of the financial burden. He emphasized that Fairfax, as opposed to the airports authority, is in excellent financial standing to receive that federal help. But he stopped short of promising that 100 percent of the county's added costs would be covered, saying he's "not the expert" on specific funding mechanisms.

Supervisors have until July 20 to decide if they'll accept LaHood's proposal.

Governors Weigh in on Dulles Metro Funding
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 | Updated 8:20 PM EDT
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Governors-Weigh-In-On-Dulles-Metro-Funding-125451543.html

The governors of Virginia and Maryland are turning up the pressure to bring down the cost of a planned Metro station at Dulles Airport.

The project is mired in a fight over the location of the station and how much it will cost to build.

In April, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority approved an underground station close to the terminal, but an above-ground option would be $330 million cheaper.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell supports the cheaper option. Monday, he said the state would not contribute an extra $150 million to the construction project despite pleas for more money.

"We need to reduce the cost back to the $2.5 billion estimate," said McDonnell. "We haven't put a dime of new money on the table, and at this point, we don't have any plans to."

According to the Washington Post, those comments have rankled supervisors weighing a proposal from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Under LaHood's plan, Fairfax County would take responsibility for parts of the $3.5 billion rail project. In exchange, federal loans would be made available to the county.

Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is asking the members of the airports authority to reverse their votes.

Fairfax Co. ponies up cash for Route 28 Metro station
Wednesday - 7/27/2011, 8:00am ET
Kristi King, wtop.com
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=149&sid=2471121

FAIRFAX, Va. - Plans are moving ahead that might help ease traffic in Fairfax County's Route 28 corridor. A one, two punch from the County Board of Supervisors includes road work to help drivers and efforts to get cars off the road with the Dulles Rail Project.

The board now is on the record saying the county will pay for the Route 28 Metrorail station and for two station parking garages, the Route 28 and Herndon-Monroe stations. The approval is contingent upon the federal government making loans available for financing.

The vote essentially endorses a plan by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood to reduce the cost for the Dulles Rail Project while spreading the cost among federal, state and local partners. The goal is to cut about a billion dollars from the project to keep estimated costs in the $2.8 billion range.

Paying for the rail station and garages could add to Fairfax County's previous commitment to foot 16 percent of the bill for the project. Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin will negotiate funding plans later this week with staffers from fellow project partners Loudoun County and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Also, in an effort to help ease bottlenecks for drivers in the Dulles area, the board voted to release $6 million from the Route 28 special taxing district to fund final designs to widen the highway. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors already voted to approve that release of funds as requested by Virginia's Department of Transportation.

Extra travel lanes are planned for portions of route 28 between the Dulles International Airport area and Route 50.

The four areas of the highway involved are the following:


Route 28 southbound between Sterling Boulevard and the Dulles Toll Road;
Route 28 southbound bridge over the Dulles Toll Road;
Route 28 southbound between the Dulles Toll Road and Route 50;
Route 28 northbound between McLearen Road and the Dulles Toll Road.

Dulles Rail Moves Forward
County board approves new cost allocation, considers Route 28 Station ‘problematic.’
By Nicholas Horrock
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=353296&paper=71&cat=104

The Fairfax Board of Supervisors Tuesday, July 26, voted to approve the new cost allocation plan for Phase 2 of the Dulles Rail project, but said if it cannot find sufficient funding to build the Route 28 Metro station at $83 million and the Fairfax and Herndon parking garages at $109 million, the work should be completed by all the Dulles Rail partners.

In a plan by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, provided to the board at its July 12 meeting, one way to reallocate costs of the Dulles Rail project so it could move forward was to have Fairfax and Loudoun counties assume the cost of building parking garages at the rail stations. The plan also called for Fairfax to pay the cost of building a station at Route 28.

The Dulles Rail partnership includes Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, the State of Virginia, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority and the Federal Government. An analysis by LaHood’s office concluded that Phase 2 could not be completed without a reallocation of costs and an abandonment of the underground station at Dulles.

In the intervening weeks, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority voted to abandon the plan to build the subway station at Dulles underground and close to the terminal and said it would build it near the North Garage, providing a covered walkway to the terminal. Though this will save some $300 million in estimated costs, DOT officials believe a whole range of other cost reductions will be necessary to make the project viable.

In a report to Fairfax County citizens, Board Chairman Sharon Bulova called the demand that Fairfax “assume the full cost of the station… problematic.”

She wrote “the Route 28 station will service both Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. The station pavilion on the north side provides for Loudoun and Fairfax transit connections to the station.”

She said the north side entrance pavilion connects with land owned by the State of Virginia at the Center for Innovative Technology and “will provide the State with significant development opportunities.”

She said the county therefore “prefers that a State or Federal grant (or funding) be put toward the cost of the station and that the station remained funded through the project.”

Fairfax would agree to building the garages in part because it can collect parking fees and in hope of getting federal transit assistance.

The Route 28 station would transfer about $83 million in costs to the county. It would include two station entrances on both sides of the Dulles Toll Road and a pedestrian bridge built across the toll road and an airport access highway. There would be a bus drop and pick up at both entrances and a kiss&ride on the south side. There would be parking for 2,000 cars.

At Tuesday’s session the board voted to send County Executive Anthony H. Griffin to further meetings with the Dulles Rail partners with these instructions.

1. On the funding of the Route 28 station. “Fairfax County will make every reasonable effort to assemble a funding option for the Route 28 Station” and the two garages.
2. But if it could not get the funding, “the construction costs… should remain in the overall project.”
3. The Route 28 station and the garages would remain under the Dulles Partners until Fairfax was able to arrange funding.

Funding may include federal transportation loans and loans or grants from Virginia. At a July 20 meeting, Virginia promised $150 million toward the project.

The board vote split in general according to party lines. The Democrats voted in favor of trying to get the project going under LaHood’s plan and two of the three Republicans voted against.

FFX County Political News Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The four areas of the highway involved are the
> following:
>
>
> Route 28 southbound between Sterling Boulevard and
> the Dulles Toll Road;
> Route 28 southbound bridge over the Dulles Toll
> Road;
> Route 28 southbound between the Dulles Toll Road
> and Route 50;
> Route 28 northbound between McLearen Road and the
> Dulles Toll Road.

I drive on rt. 28 a lot during afternoon rush hour, and it seems to me that the bottleneck is not at Dulles airport, but rather at the I-66 interchange. Sending more cars south to get stuck at that half-assed interchange is not going to help. They need to tear down that fucking senior center and build the ramp to 66 east. Also the light at the soccer fields could be eliminated, making it a right in/right out intersection only. Finally they could extend the 55 mph speed limit all the way to the 66 interchange instead of before Braddock/Walney

Something seriously needs to be done. I live in Gainesville now, and if I hit 28 or 66 at the wrong time, its going to be a looooooong wait.

Airports board wants state, feds to contribute more money for Dulles rail
By Dana Hedgpeth, Published: August 17
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/airports-board-wants-state-feds-to-contribute-more-money-for-dulles-rail/2011/08/17/gIQAYGVCMJ_story.html?wprss=rss_local

Washington’s airports authority wants more money from federal and state governments to build the second phase of the Metro rail line to Dulles International Airport.

The board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is overseeing construction of the extension to Dulles and Loudoun County, said Wednesday it wants Virginia to contribute $500 million and the federal government to provide loans of $700 million to $1.2 billion.

Dulles rail talks in flux with airport station location on the table
Virginia political operative battles for underground Dulles rail station
“The federal government really needs to step up to the plate,” said Mame Reiley, who chairs the Dulles Corridor Committee for the airports authority’s board. She said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called the Dulles project “one of the most important” transportation projects in the country.

“We’re saying to him: We agree, so show us the money,” she said.

The administration of Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) has not been clear publicly about whether the state plans to contribute $150 million toward the project. McDonnell has objected to the board’s decision to require the lead contractor to sign a work agreement with organized labor.

Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton said Wednesday that the state has no plans to contribute $500 million.

“We don’t have it, and we have no intention of giving it,” he said. “Our goal is to get this project back to the original price tag so we can move forward, and the state has already provided the Dulles Toll Road and its revenues to move this project at $2.5 billion.”

Without the additional funds, Reiley said drivers would still have to pay higher rates along the Dulles Toll Road. The revenue is being used to help fund the new rail line. One-way tolls could rise from $2 to $13 in 20 years and to $17 in 30 years, according to an analysis by the airports authority.

With the money, “that’s where the tolls would go down,” she said.

The second part of the Dulles line will run from Reston to Dulles Airport and continue to Loudoun County. It is estimated to cost about $3.5 billion, although federal, state and local officials hope to trim hundreds of millions more from the price.

For months, the region’s local leaders and the airports authority board quarreled about whether to locate the Dulles station above or below ground. Last month, the board voted to approve a deal brokered by LaHood to put the Dulles station above ground, a cost savings of at least $330 million and a reversal of its previous position.

As part of the deal, Loudoun and Fairfax counties are expected to help reduce the overall cost by finding a way to pay for parking garages and the Route 28 station. They are trying to identify public-private partnerships for those deals, and also plan to apply for the same federal money — known as TIFIA, or Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans — that the authority wants, according to Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova.

Bulova said the counties are working with LaHood to determine the costs and their options for paying their portions.

“Fairfax would need TIFIA to make it affordable,” Bulova said. “LaHood was encouraging about TIFIA being made available to the counties, not [the airports authority].”

Details of LaHood’s agreement are being ironed out with officials in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. Some members of the airports authority board expressed concern about whether the localities would meet their end of the deal.

“People were asked to share the sacrifice,” said Robert Brown, a member of the airports authority board. “To give up stuff they wanted, to take on some pain. We gave up the underground station and all the players were asked to do things.

“Now they seem to be saying they’ll use their best efforts to do it but a deal is a deal,” Brown said. “Now everybody has to stick to it.”

The first phase of the Dulles project, which runs from Falls Church through Tysons Corner to Reston and is expected to open in 2014, is on time and on budget, according to Pat Nowakowski, executive director of the Dulles project. He briefed the board at its committee meetings Wednesday.

“We will be very close,” he said of the projected cost for Phase 1, which officials have said is $2.75 billion. The federal government committed $900 million to the first phase.

He said Kawasaki, the manufacturer of the new 7000 series rail cars that will run on the Dulles line, has experienced some work issues after the tsunami in Japan. Metro officials said they are “monitoring the situation” and expect to know closer to the end of the year how it might impact production of the rail cars.

We need to quit spending to subsidize the people who live far out. They use our roads but pay real estate taxes in the outer counties. The Silver Line and the Outer Beltway are just two more ways to keep extending the sprawl.

Les Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We need to quit spending to subsidize the people
> who live far out. They use our roads but pay real
> estate taxes in the outer counties. The Silver
> Line and the Outer Beltway are just two more ways
> to keep extending the sprawl.

We need to dump Asshole Connolly for bringing us this mess in the first place.

It's not Connelly's fault! It's just that all these projects need to be completed, by having the crews working 24/7 in (3) eight hour shifts.

More Updates Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Airports board wants state, feds to contribute
> more money for Dulles rail
> By Dana Hedgpeth, Published: August 17
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/airports-board
> -wants-state-feds-to-contribute-more-money-for-dul
> les-rail/2011/08/17/gIQAYGVCMJ_story.html?wprss=rs
> s_local
>
> Washington’s airports authority wants more money
> from federal and state governments to build the
> second phase of the Metro rail line to Dulles
> International Airport.
>
> The board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports
> Authority, which is overseeing construction of the
> extension to Dulles and Loudoun County, said
> Wednesday it wants Virginia to contribute $500
> million and the federal government to provide
> loans of $700 million to $1.2 billion.
>
> Dulles rail talks in flux with airport station
> location on the table
> Virginia political operative battles for
> underground Dulles rail station
> “The federal government really needs to step up
> to the plate,” said Mame Reiley, who chairs the
> Dulles Corridor Committee for the airports
> authority’s board. She said Transportation
> Secretary Ray LaHood has called the Dulles project
> “one of the most important” transportation
> projects in the country.
>
> “We’re saying to him: We agree, so show us the
> money,” she said.
>
> The administration of Virginia Gov. Robert F.
> McDonnell (R) has not been clear publicly about
> whether the state plans to contribute $150 million
> toward the project. McDonnell has objected to the
> board’s decision to require the lead contractor
> to sign a work agreement with organized labor.
>
> Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton
> said Wednesday that the state has no plans to
> contribute $500 million.
>
> “We don’t have it, and we have no intention of
> giving it,” he said. “Our goal is to get this
> project back to the original price tag so we can
> move forward, and the state has already provided
> the Dulles Toll Road and its revenues to move this
> project at $2.5 billion.”
>
> Without the additional funds, Reiley said drivers
> would still have to pay higher rates along the
> Dulles Toll Road. The revenue is being used to
> help fund the new rail line. One-way tolls could
> rise from $2 to $13 in 20 years and to $17 in 30
> years, according to an analysis by the airports
> authority.
>
> With the money, “that’s where the tolls would
> go down,” she said.
>
> The second part of the Dulles line will run from
> Reston to Dulles Airport and continue to Loudoun
> County. It is estimated to cost about $3.5
> billion, although federal, state and local
> officials hope to trim hundreds of millions more
> from the price.
>
> For months, the region’s local leaders and the
> airports authority board quarreled about whether
> to locate the Dulles station above or below
> ground. Last month, the board voted to approve a
> deal brokered by LaHood to put the Dulles station
> above ground, a cost savings of at least $330
> million and a reversal of its previous position.
>
> As part of the deal, Loudoun and Fairfax counties
> are expected to help reduce the overall cost by
> finding a way to pay for parking garages and the
> Route 28 station. They are trying to identify
> public-private partnerships for those deals, and
> also plan to apply for the same federal money —
> known as TIFIA, or Transportation Infrastructure
> Finance and Innovation Act loans — that the
> authority wants, according to Fairfax County Board
> of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova.
>
> Bulova said the counties are working with LaHood
> to determine the costs and their options for
> paying their portions.
>
> “Fairfax would need TIFIA to make it
> affordable,” Bulova said. “LaHood was
> encouraging about TIFIA being made available to
> the counties, not .”
>
> Details of LaHood’s agreement are being ironed
> out with officials in Loudoun and Fairfax
> counties. Some members of the airports authority
> board expressed concern about whether the
> localities would meet their end of the deal.
>
> “People were asked to share the sacrifice,”
> said Robert Brown, a member of the airports
> authority board. “To give up stuff they wanted,
> to take on some pain. We gave up the underground
> station and all the players were asked to do
> things.
>
> “Now they seem to be saying they’ll use their
> best efforts to do it but a deal is a deal,”
> Brown said. “Now everybody has to stick to
> it.”
>
> The first phase of the Dulles project, which runs
> from Falls Church through Tysons Corner to Reston
> and is expected to open in 2014, is on time and on
> budget, according to Pat Nowakowski, executive
> director of the Dulles project. He briefed the
> board at its committee meetings Wednesday.
>
> “We will be very close,” he said of the
> projected cost for Phase 1, which officials have
> said is $2.75 billion. The federal government
> committed $900 million to the first phase.
>
> He said Kawasaki, the manufacturer of the new 7000
> series rail cars that will run on the Dulles line,
> has experienced some work issues after the tsunami
> in Japan. Metro officials said they are
> “monitoring the situation” and expect to know
> closer to the end of the year how it might impact
> production of the rail cars.


Instead of soaking Dulles Toll Road drivers with exorbitant tolls, why not fund the silver line extension by placing a surcharge on Metro riders who enter/exit at Dulles Airport. This is done elsewhere in the country ($ surcharge at San Francisco Airport for example) and would help alleviate much of the funding shortfall. I have suggested this repeatedly to Dr. Gridlock at the Washington Post but he never has responded or latched on to the idea. Seems very fundamental and easy to implement.

DTR Driver Backlash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Instead of soaking Dulles Toll Road drivers with
> exorbitant tolls, why not fund the silver line
> extension by placing a surcharge on Metro riders
> who enter/exit at Dulles Airport. This is done
> elsewhere in the country ($ surcharge at San
> Francisco Airport for example) and would help
> alleviate much of the funding shortfall. I have
> suggested this repeatedly to Dr. Gridlock at the
> Washington Post but he never has responded or
> latched on to the idea. Seems very fundamental
> and easy to implement.

This was to be expected when they gave the MWAA so much control over the project. Of course they want the project to work in the way that is best for them and of course they want to pass on as many of the costs as possible to others. That is the nature of the game.

Just say Yes to Jerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's not Connelly's fault! It's just that all
> these projects need to be completed, by having the
> crews working 24/7 in (3) eight hour shifts.


The union PLA agreements won't allow any workers to work more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period...