Update - Phase 2 Can Survive if Loundoun County Opts Out - That's the Good News

In a recent posting I indicated that If Loudoun County decides to Opt out of Phase 2 of the Metrorail Project that it could kill the entire phase two extension of Metrorail through Herndon and onto Dulles Airport.

The reason for this is that the Route 772 station is the planned western terminus of the Silver line which is located in Loudoun County. The terminus is where the trains turn around, are parked when not in use, and where maintenance can be performed. Up to just recently, it has been said that the airport cannot support a terminus station.

However, at a recent Committee for Dulles Board of Directors meeting I had the opportunity to ask Sam Carnaggio, Project Director at Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, if there was an alternative plan for the terminus station currently planned for the route 772 station. He did indicate that it could be on airport (Federal) property, and now the bad news, but it would take a considerable amount of additional engineering and would delay Phase 2 by at least two years.