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Friday, April 19, 2013

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, …

Friday, March 29, 2013

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 …

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

American Airlines Flight Declares Emergency, Diverts to Dulles Wednesday Afternoon

Flight that took off from Reagan National diverted to Dulles after reportedly having a possible pressurization issue, according to WUSA.

An American Airlines flight heading from Washington D.C. to Dallas made an emergency landing at Dulles Airport Wednesday afternoon due to a pressurization issue, after taking off from Reagan National Airport according to a WUSA report that quotes Rob Yingling of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The American Airline pilots may have had a pressurization issue on American Airlines Flight #1491. The pilots apparently landed the plane on Runway 1C at Dulles.  The plane circled Dulles before landing at approximately 2:15 p.m. Emergency vehicles were standing by. A new flight report from American shows it will take off from Dulles at 3:45 p.m. and land at Dallas at 6:20 p.m. The original landing time was 3:13 p.m. Central Time.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Commercial Development at Dulles Airport May Impede Herndon’s Metro Station Area Plan

On January 16, 2013, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s (“MWAA”) Board of Directors passed a resolution proposing to amend its lease with the US Department of Transportation to allow commercial development on Dulles Airport property.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

WAMU: MWAA Members Targeted Martire, Reiley

Three allegedly worked with GOP in Virginia to oust Democrats from the organization responsible for building the Silver Line.

Three members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors allegedly actively worked with Republican officials in Virginia to orchestrate the removal of Mame Reiley and union supporter Dennis Martire from the board, according to a story published Wednesday on American University Radio's (WAMU 88.5) website. MWAA and its board have come under scrutiny in recent years after an audit discovered questionable practices, including sweetheart deals for former board members, questionable travel expenses and nepotism. Martire was among those named for his activities, particularly an expensive trip on behalf of the organization. The Democratic members were removed, despite the internal review of MWAA raising much broader …

Bob Bruhns

10:30 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013

Whatever our government is doing, it certainly is NOT calling the FTA and MWAA cost estimators out and demanding to know why our rail extension costs so much more than it should cost. Why? The estimates say that the Rt 28 station will cost two times what a comparable, actually more sophisticated station costs in posh, wealthy Fairfield Connecticut, and the estimates also say that the Phase 2 …   more ›

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Metro Seeking Public Art for Silver Line

Though Phase 2 construction has yet to begin, process is underway for art in the six future stations.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is seeking artists to contribute public art works at Phase 2 Silver Line Metro stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), will place works at six future Silver Line stations. The art  will promote transit use, enhance travel by Metro, and highlight the cultural vitality of the National Capital region, according to materials from Metro. MWAA is managing the design and construction of the Silver Line Project, the Metro extension that is set to begin operating at the end of 2013. Phase 1 of Silver Line will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, which does not yet have a construction start date, will …

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Bob Bruhns

11:57 am on Friday, January 25, 2013

Here is a link about WMATA's $26 Billion needs. Our leaders signed us up for more than they realized. Now I guess they can retire and leave the area. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-proposes-26-billion-overhaul/2013/01/23/fa31fdd4-658a-11e2-b84d-21c7b65985ee_story.html   more ›

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Final Silver Line Timetable Has Rail on Track

Phase 1 of new rail line expected to be turned over for testing and training in August.

Metro's Silver Line Phase 1 is 86 percent complete and on schedule for delivery by the end of August, says Pat Nowakowski, Executive Director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. Nowakowski gave an analysis at last week's Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority meeting. MWAA is not giving an exact date that Phase 1 of the Silver Line — which will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue — will open, but is sticking with a general date of December 2013 for now, MWAA spokesman Rob Yingling said. Some of the highlights of Nowakowski's presentation: • Final Design – All design is complete. One permit needs to be secured. • Metro has paid out $2.255 billion so far. The final cost is expected to be $2,905,695,000. There is $81 …

Rob Whitfield

8:06 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013

Karen, somehow you omitted to mention that most Series 7000 railcars will not be delivered for Silver Line use until July 2014 at the earliest. WMATA will have four "test" cars for use during the first half of 2014 but wants to use them throughout the Metrorail system. Even though Metrorail riders are paying next to nothing of the $6 billion costs of the Silver Line, riders from the Dulles …   more ›

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Airport Holiday Travel Tips from MWAA

Information, websites and more that can help you get through the airport.

With the holidays comes holiday traveling and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has tips for customers traveling through Dulles International and Reagan National airports.  “We advise our customers to plan ahead and arrive early during peak times this holiday season,” said Jack Potter, MWAA President and CEO in a press release. “We are committed to providing an excellent, welcoming experience to all travelers who come to our airports — especially at this time of the year.” This year the Transportation Security Administration introduced TSAPre✓, a dedicated security checkpoint for passengers who are approved for expedited screening. Approved passengers don't have to remove their shoes, belts, laptops or 3-1-1 compliant bags from …

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Former County Exec Griffin Joins MWAA Board

Retired Fairfax County Executive appointed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

Anthony H. Griffin, who retired in April after 13 years as the Fairfax County Executive, has been appointed to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors. Griffin, who was appointed to the 17-member board by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, is currently a faculty member at George Mason University’s Department of Public and International Affairs and is the at-large Board Member of the Fairfax County Water Authority. He replaces board member Michael O'Reilly, whose term ended in November. MWAA, which manages and operates Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, also oversees the Dulles Airport Access Road, the Dulles Toll Road and construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of Metro into …

Bob Bruhns

11:18 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I might begin to have faith in MWAA and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, if they would IMMEDIATELY investigate the apparent double price of the Dulles Rail project. They can easily call out the cost estimators for this project and get a full accounting of the sky-high estimates. But they do not do this. That is why I consider this whole bunch, and the surrounding 'leaders' who also do not demand …   more ›

Friday, November 30, 2012

Silver Line May Cost More Than Expected

Turnaround on Maryland end could cost Metro an additional $4.5 million year.

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