Silver Line Funding: Fairfax Board Urged to Move on TIFIA Loan

The federal loan program could save Fairfax County and Dulles Toll Road users millions, but the tight timeline is giving some supervisors pause.

Fairfax County transportation officials have asked the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to move on federal loans that could help pay for $1.9 billion of the total cost of the Silver Line. FCDOT representatives presented the Board with a series of recommendations Tuesday afternoon in order to file an application for a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from the federal government. Joe LaHait, the county’s debt coordinator, said if the funding partners secured such a loan, approximately $1.3 billion would be allocated to the Dulles Toll Road. Toll Road users are currently on the hook for 75 percent of the $5.9 billion rail project and toll prices are expected to increase dramatically in the coming years…

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Bob Bruhns

2:53 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

Surprisingly, one source reports that Fairfax County staff hopes to get interest as low as 2% on its Tifia loan for the Dulles Rail / Silver Line project. Fairfax County preps to pay rest of rail bill Fairfax Times, May 08, 2013 http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130508/NEWS/130508899/1117/fairfax-county-preps-to-pay-rest-of-rail-bill&template=fairfaxTimes Looking at the US DOT / FTA TIFIA …   more ›

Silver Line Bus Routes Take Shape

Future of Route 432 through Vienna is unclear. What do you think should happen with the route?

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is zeroing in on a plan for enhanced bus service to help residents get to new Metro stations when the Silver Line opens at the end of 2013. More than 40 percent of the Fairfax Connector system will change in some way when those stations open, and officials are seeking feedback from residents to provide the best service possible. Wednesday night’s meeting in Tysons marked the end of the second round of public input sessions on the routes. FCDOT representatives conducted the first round in February, when many residents wanted to see changes to route layouts and bus frequency. The revised plan features more midday and evening bus service on Reston and Herndon routes. Officials also restored the …

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J Anderson

9:33 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013

The 3rd set of facts isn't actually factual else why would any of us want to see our tax dollars poured into a dangerous public good like that? And I gather the other modes suggested are basically cars or SUVS or minivans - which is the very essence of our problem no? There is no street car, the metro is the destination, bikes are only used by scofflaws and walking only works with 0.25-0.4 miles…   more ›

MWAA Chooses a Frontrunner for Phase 2

Capital Rail Constructors showed lowest bid for Silver Line construction.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Thursday issued a Notice of Recommended Award to Capital Rail Constructors for the major design-build portion of Silver Line Phase 2 rail to Dulles. Capital Rail Constructors is comprised of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. The recommendation recognizes CRC as the low-price proposer for the contract, but does not constitute a final award of the contract, MWAA said in a statement. The announcement follows an MWAA review of Capital Rail Constructors’ $1,177,777,000 proposal, which was determined to meet all necessary requirements, MWAA said. Capital Rail Constructors’ price proposal was the lowest of the five read by the Airports Authority at a public opening last …

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McDonnell: Low Bids Will Mean Lower Tolls

Virginia governor says savings on construction will be passed on to savings by drivers.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's five proposals for construction of Phase 2 of the Silver Line came in far below expectations - which he predicts will mean major savings for Virginia taxpayers and users of the Dulles Toll Road. MWAA received proposals last week from Bechtel Transit Partners, Capital Rail Constructors, Dulles APC Railbuilders, Dulles Metrorail Connectors, and Silver Line Constructors. The estimates range from $1.17 billion to $1.37 billion, MWAA said. MWAA is expected to conduct a detailed review of the proposals and award a contract later this spring. The $2.7 billion Phase 2 is being built without federal funding (Phase 1 received $900 million in federal dollars). It will …

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Five Bid for Silver Line Phase 2 Contract

Contractors estimate costs of $1.1 to more than $1.3 billion.

Five Bid for Silver Line Phase 2 Contract

Contractors estimate costs of $1.1 to more than $1.3 billion.

Five contractors - including Reston-based Bechtel - have entered bids to construct Phase 2 of Metro's Silver Line, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Friday.  The bids ranged from $1.1 to $1.3 billion. Phase 2 is the 11.4-mile segment of the Silver Line that will run from Reston's Wiehle Avenue to Dulles International Airport and into Ashburn, Phase 1 of the Silver Line, from Tysons Corner  to Wiehle Avenue, is nearly completed and scheduled to open in December. MWAA said Friday the award of the Phase 2 contract will occur after a review to validate that each proposal properly responds to the solicitation.  “Today is a significant step toward the selection of the design-build contractor for Phase 2,” Pat Nowakowski, …

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Photo Gallery: Art Unveiling at Tysons Walmart

Robert Cole's "The Thought" will greet shoppers at the new Walmart in Tysons West.

Local officials and stakeholders gathered Monday at the site of the Tysons West Walmart for the debut of the public art piece that will grace the outside of of the store. Washington, DC's Robert Cole, who designed "The Thought" on commission, said it was a piece everyone will be able to enjoy. The Walmart could be open as early as September, according to officials. The 79,000-square-foot store will be part of developer JBG Retail's new building, anchored by Walmart and 24-Hour Fitness. Restaurants Noodles and Company and Smashburger have also signed leases.  Approximately half of the Wal-Mart’s space will be devoted to groceries and a pharmacy. Unlike the massive superstores found in some areas, the Tysons location has been branded as an "…

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Silver Line: Yes, That's a Train Above Route 7

Expect to see Metro cars along the Silver Line as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority tests tracks.

Those who live and work in Tysons Corner can expect to see more and more trains running above Rt. 7 in the coming months as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority tests the tracks on the Silver Line. Officials say that testing, which has been ongoing for the last few months, is proceeding smoothly. The Silver Line’s first phase, running from East Falls Church to Reston, is expected to be complete and operational by December 2013. As the opening date draws nearer, folks will likely see more trains coming and going. Deborah Humphries works in Tysons Corner on Old Meadow Road, with an office overlooking the tracks. She took the photo with this story on Tuesday and sent it to Tysons Corner Patch via Twitter. The tests above ground …

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Bob Bruhns

7:48 am on Friday, April 12, 2013

There were several problems during the Dulles Rail / Silver Line Phase 1 test train runs - a number of emergency shutdown switchboxes and a handrail had been mounted in the path of the train and were hit during the early runs, and a test train had a wheel lock up and drop something onto the track, that hit and cut some 60 cables that carry train speed and position information to the system. That …   more ›

MWAA: Rail Yard Won’t Delay Silver Line

The contractors plans to deliver project on time, but contingencies are in place to keep rail on track.

After reports that delays on a rail yard project at West Falls Church could delay the start date for the Metro’s Silver Line, a representative for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority denies the claim. MWAA is constructing the 23-mile Silver Line extension. Marcia McAllister, spokeswoman for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, an arm of MWAA, acknowledged the contractor’s schedule had slipped on the Falls Church rail yard. The rail yard is needed to help accommodate the additional trains operating along the Silver Line, which will run from East Falls Church to Reston in its first phase and beyond to Ashburn when complete. McAllister said the part of the rail yard project experiencing delays was a service and inspection …

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Fairfax County Could Sell Air Rights to Fight Tolls

With tolls projected to increase, officials are looking into air rights sales.

Fairfax County is exploring how selling air rights could help reduce tolls on the Dulles Toll Road that are expected to shoot up with Phase II Silver Line construction. Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) asked staff last week to look into the cost of a study determining how much money the county could charge developers for the right to build over the Toll Road and new Silver Line Metro stations. Air rights over roads and rail have been sold numerous times in New York City. For example, the 58-story Metlife building in New York is built in air rights above Grand Central Terminal. The city is also hoping to make as much as $750 million for mass transit improvements through air rights sales around Grand Central, according to Bloomberg. “…

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Bob Bruhns

11:08 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

From Pg.3 (continued): VDOT owns the property at or around these stations and would like to explore whether development at, around, and or atop these stations would make business sense, be feasible, integrate with local land use/transportation plans, and meet the local needs. According to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, the vision is to transform Tysons Corner from suburban office park and…   more ›