Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Speak Up on Toll Increases

Information for those who are opposed to toll increases on Rt. 267.

What happens when you complain to MWAA about Dulles Toll Road tolls? That depends on what you say and who you say it to. First, don’t be surprised when you go to a public hearing to find out you are being treated to a Dulles Rail, MWAA, Dulles Toll Road promotional presentation. NoTOLLincrease.org will be there to give you an opportunity to send a personal video message to the Virginia legislators who are hiding behind MWAA. Here are a few points you may want to make if you are opposed to toll increases. We also recommend that you demand answers from your Virginia legislators. Contact us for a bumper sticker today at: info@notollincrease.org or better yet pick one up at the hearing.  First public hearing:   David LaRock Hamilton, VA 

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Dulles Toll Increase Hearings Set

Exhibits are available online and comments may be given via Internet or at hearing.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced this past week that the public comment period has opened regarding proposed toll rate increases along the Dulles Toll Road to help pay construction costs for the Metro’s Silver Line project as well as road operations. Under proposal, the combined main plaza and ramp tolls would double from the existing rate to $2.25 for 2-axle vehicles over the next three years based on the following schedule: Informational about the proposed toll increases, titled "On-Line Open House," can be found at www.mwaa.com/tollroad. Public comments can be submitted online or through the mail through Sept. 16, click here for address, or in person at one of the hearings, which will be conducted in an open …

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Speak Out: Should McDonnell Continue Pursuit for Martire's MWAA Removal?

As Virginia GOP pushes for control of panel, resistance continues with court ruling against governor

As legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) works its way through Congress to rework the membership of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Virginia leaders and the existing board remain tied up in court over the current membership. A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge ruled against Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Monday, leaving one seat on the MWAA board vacant as the parties resolve the dispute. McDonnell attempted to remove Dennis Martire — a Democratic appointee who has come under fire for a $9,000 plane ticket to Prague for a transportation conference that MWAA authorized — and replace him with Caren Merrick, a Republican who lost her run for delegate in the 31st District last fall. At issue is whether McDonnell had …

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Mark Carolla

9:55 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012

@ Dave Webster - Thanks. Apologies for attributing the Post comment to you. It is my opinion and that the Post's (and other media) transportation reporting is sometimes lacking in an understanding and presentation of real issues. I'd be interested to see the entire report Mr. Martire wrote because the use of smartphones in ticketing, passenger boarding facilitation, rebooking in case of delays …   more ›

Republicans Target MWAA as Campaign Issue

GOP blames authority’s ails on U.S. Senate hopeful, former governor Tim Kaine.

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th District), who previously pushed legislation through to expand Virginia’s representation on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s board of directors, has now introduced legislation to completely rework that board, heavily weighting it toward Virginia. Wolf joined a group of Republicans in front of the old Loudoun Courthouse on Tuesday to decry MWAA and blame many of its woes on U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Kaine (D), a former governor of Virginia. "Both airports, the Dulles Toll Road and the Silver Line extension are all in Virginia," Wolf said. "Would anyone think that Virginia should have majority control over the operations of Baltimore Washington International Airport or the development of the H …

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Silver Line Guideway Complete, A Major Milestone for Rail to Dulles

Final segment of Phase I lowered into place along Dulles Access Road on Tuesday

Phase I of Metro's Silver Line project celebrated a major milestone Tuesday: completion of the construction of the aerial guideway. The aerial guideway was finished about noon Tuesday when a final section was ever so slowly lowered into place in the median of the Dulles Access Road. Applause erupted from a crowd of officials from the Metro Washington Airports Authority, Dulles Metrorail and Bechtel, who were gathered with members of the press to witness the fitting of the last segment. "The eagle has landed," said Sam Carnaggio, who has directed the project for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, as the last segment fit perfectly after the 45-minute lowering operation. "With the completion of the aerial guideway you can walk …

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Uncle Smartypants

2:27 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Technically, no, YOU can't walk it. What he was trying to convey is that there is now a continuous rail bed in place from the Orange line to Wiehle. If one had the access and permissions, it would be possible to walk the entire distance.   more ›

MWAA: Phase 2 of Metrorail Moving Forward

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says the project is moving into the next phase.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has begun the process of selecting a design-build contractor for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.  Beginning Phase 2 is an important milestone for the project to extend to the Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County, MWAA announced on Friday.  MWAA has issued a Request for Qualifications Information in order to solicit information from potential bidders for the 11.5-mile project that will extend from Wiehle Avenue in Reston west to Dulles Airport, ending at Route 772 in eastern Loudoun County. The RFQI has been posted on the Airports Authority website and can be found here.  “We are grateful to our project partners in the Federal Government, Virginia, Fairfax and Loudoun …

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Bob Bruhns

10:46 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Just to clarify, the earlier estimates I mention already included the change from the below ground to the above ground station plan at Dulles Airport, and already assumed that the costs for the Rt 28 station and the five Phase II parking garages just went away. The FTA suggested the number of $2.767 billion (including their $53 million blunder on the Rt 28 station cost, so it should have been $2.…   more ›

Dulles Airport Sees 500M Passenger Milestone

The 500 millionth passenger was estimated to have passed through the Dulles International Airport around noon Friday, June 15.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Dulles International Airport threw a surprise party for the passengers waiting to board United Airlines flight No. 1172 on Friday, June 15, in celebration of the airport's 500 millionth passenger. The party included cake, beverages and an extra suprise for a lucky passenger, according to an MWAA press release. The airport opened in 1962 and United Airlines has had a hub at Dulles for 25 years. One traveler on the flight was selected as the person to receive the symbolic honor of being passenger number 500 million. The Los Angeles-bound passenger and his wife were presented with a framed picture of the iconic airport terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, as well as a parking voucher good for…

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Snelling Murder-Suicide Puts End-of-Life Decisions in National Spotlight

The love story and deaths of the Fogelsville, Pa., couple are making headlines across the country.

The 60-year love story and deaths of former Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Chairman Charles Snelling and his ailing wife, Adrienne, are making headlines from Tampa to Seattle for many reasons. The couple was found dead in their Fogelsville, Pa., home Thursday morning. Charles Snelling died of a gunshot wound, the Lehigh County coroner has ruled. His wife's cause of death is still under investigation. The college sweethearts were each 81. They are survived by five children and 11 grandchildren. The murder-suicide follows the deteriorating health of Adrienne, an accomplished fine arts photographer diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease six years ago. Charles Snelling wrote a poignant biographical column for the New York Times in 2011…

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Shaun Courtney

5:23 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Jason, thanks for your input.   more ›

Dulles Airport Opens Expanded International Arrivals Building

The new facility is to accommodate increasing international traffic at Dulles International Airport.

The Dulles International Airport has undergone a number of renovations in recent years, the newest of which is the expanded international arrivals building.  The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has doubled the floor space in the building to about 400,000 square feet, has increased the number of Customs inspection positions to 50, installed six new baggage carousels, streamlined passenger flow from the international arrivals building to the passenger greeting area and incorporated public art into the design.  The new facility can accommodate about 2,400 passengers, and their luggage, per hour. The original 1991 design of the building accommodated just 1,400 passengers per hour.  The expansion was built to accomodate growing …

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