Thursday, May 16, 2013
With the contractor selected, the first of several “milestones” begins for the Metro line creeping toward Ashburn.
The notion of riding Metro from a station in Ashburn to Reston Town Center, Tysons Corner or Washington, DC, moved another small step toward reality Wednesday when the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors cemented its selection of Capital Rail Constructors to build Phase 2 of the Silver Line. “This is the first of many milestones to come for the second phase of the Silver Line,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO. Phase 1 of the 23-mile extension runs from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue and could begin carrying passengers by the end of the year. Passengers will be able to stay on Silver Line trains East of Falls Church because they will share the Orange Line track. While the contract award for Phase 2 marks …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A group that includes Clarke Construction, Kiewit Infrastructure, Parsons and Dewberry will build Phase 2.
After previous announcing plans intent to pick Capital Rail Constructors as the contractor for the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line project, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority made it official Wednesday. The CRC group – which includes Clarke Construction Group, Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., Parsons Transportation and Dewberry – will extend the line from the first phase’s last station at Wiehle Avenue in Reston to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn. “This is the first of many milestones to come for the second phase of the Silver Line,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO. “The Phase 2 contract, awarded through a competitive bid process, and with the coordination and collaboration of our project partners, is moving …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Virginia governor says savings on construction of Phase 2 of the Silver Line will be passed on to drivers when it comes to tolls.
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…
Friday, April 19, 2013
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, …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Fairfax County wants your input on revised bus routes for Silver Line service.
Fairfax County will hold more meetings this week to discuss a revised plan for changes to Fairfax Connector bus routes when Metro's Silver Line opens in December. The plan includes the creation of 12 new routes, the restructuring of 24 existing routes and the elimination of six routes, says the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. The revised plan incorporates changes suggested by riders and the community, since the original service proposal was released in January 2013. The complete bus service plan will be discussed at each meeting, with special emphasis placed on area service changes for the general vicinity of each meeting location. Meeting schedule: Click here to see the full list of county route changes. Stay up to date …
Friday, April 5, 2013
With Silver Line's 2013 opening, there will be altered - and added - bus routes. Give Fairfax County your opinion.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will hold public meetings and an Ask Fairfax! online chat to discuss a Fairfax Connector proposed bus service plan coming with the opening of Metro later this year. Metro's Silver Line Phase 1 is slated to open in December. The transit line will run from Tysons to Reston's Wiehle Avenue, resulting in changed to local bus service. The plan includes the creation of 12 new routes, the restructuring of 24 existing routes and the elimination of six routes, Connector officials say. The revised plan incorporates changes suggested by riders and the community, since the original service proposal was released in January 2013. The complete bus service plan will be discussed at each meeting, with special…
Friday, March 29, 2013
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 …
Monday, March 25, 2013
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. “…
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Construction on Phase 2 of the Silver Line could start between Dec. 2013 and summer 2014.
The first phase of the Silver Line is 89 percent complete and is on schedule to be taking Metro passengers to Reston in December 2013, officials confirmed this week. Mark Canale, Dulles Rail Project Manager for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said construction on the first phase is on track. During a Tuesday meeting of Fairfax County’s commission for the Phase 1 Transportation Improvement District, Canale said 98 percent of tracks for the extension from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue have been laid down. Some track work remains, as well as construction on garages and stations, but Canale said service in December was looking very likely. The West Falls Church rail yard is expected to be complete around the same time the…
Friday, March 8, 2013
WMATA will answer questions about bus and rail service at Reston event.
Herndon and Reston-area residents will have another chance to ask questions about upcoming changes to bus and rail routes happening in conjunction with Metro's Silver Line opening later this year. WMATA will hold an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 14 at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. There will be informational exhibits about the Silver Line, as well as opportunities to speak with representatives and offer feedback about changes to bus service. There will also be activities for kids. The Silver Line's Phase 1, which will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue, is slated to open in December. WMATA is seeking public comment through March 18. You can also submit feedback online at www.wmta.com/silverline. More: New …
Bob Bruhns
8:09 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Great! Maybe MWAA, Fairfax County and Loudoun County can make good financing arrangements for this phase of the rail construction now. We won't know, until MONTHS after the ground is broken. Amazingly, this project was allowed to proceed while the financing was uncertain. What are we teaching our children here? "Yes kids, this is the right and proper way to build public infrastructure. First, … more ›