Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Proposal includes cheaper above-ground airport station plan.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board reversed its course on its plans for an underground station at Dulles International Airport, voting 11-1 Wednesday to accept a proposed plan - featuring the cheaper above-ground station - from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The MWAA board voted in April for the underground station, which would be more convenient for travelers but would increase costs by about $300 million Mame Reiley, chair of MWAA's Dulles Corridor Committee, said on Wednesday she still believes the underground station was the right thing for Dulles. "Although the difference in cost between the two choices has no direct impact on the cost of the tolls, our decision has become a political football," Reiley said in …
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Vincent Gray sides with Virginia governor and others on more frugal option
Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said Wednesday he is rescinding his support for the underground Metro station option at Dulles International Airport. The mayor joins Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and US Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood in supporting the cheaper above-ground option. Gray said at a press conference he would rather have above-ground access to Dulles than no station at all. "I have reconsidered my position and we don't want to wind up with nothing," he said. The decision stems from a recent meeting Gray and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has said that the state cannot afford to spend the extra $300 million that an underground station would cost to build. It was unclear whether Gray was able to extract anything from …
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Investigation will look at board's transparency in Rail-to-Dulles process
U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovell announced Tuesday that his office will determine if Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority policies and procedures comply with the law and whether the board of directors has been transparent with and accountable for its actions with the controversial Dulles Corridor Metrorail project. U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf (R-Virginia 10th) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa 4th) asked for the investigation earlier this year. The investigation announcement comes at a time when frustration with MWAA board members is at an all-time high. On April 6, the MWAA board found itself in more hot water when it voted 9-4 to build a more expensive underground Metrorail station at Dulles International…
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Cuccinelli says he hopes the rail to Dulles Airport project never happens
While the three funding partners of the rail to Dulles Airport project are negotiating behind closed doors to settle their differences on the rising costs of phase 2, there's one state elected official who would rather see the project killed. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is getting attention for a WMAL radio interview last week when he said the project to extend rail from Reston's Wiehle Avenue Station (the end of Phase 1) to Dulles Airport and eastern Loudoun County is an "economic boondoggle." He predicted the rising costs of the project's second phase will be a central campaign issue in Loudoun County's local elections. "I hope those folks [in Loudoun] elect an entire board who is committed to pulling out of phase 2 to kill it, …
Ruth Tatlock
4:07 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
There's no joy in Mudville today! The United States of America will have a second-rate gateway to its capital city. Eero Saarinen's beautiful building will most likely have a not-beautiful building to compete with. Where's our pride? America is number ONE, we say. Well, in this case I don't know what number America is. - There's money for all kinds of things, but this, this truly important … more ›