Plans for a $5-billion rail transit extension towards northern Virginia's Dulles International Airport have cleared an important hurdle, with the Federal Transit Administration's Dec. 3 approval of a $900-million, multi-year funding commitment to the project's $2.6-billion first phase. The deal isn't done yet, however. The proposed commitment still needs approval by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and the Office of Management and Budget.
Sarah Echols, a U.S. DOT spokesperson, said, "The department is continuing to review this complex project to ensure it meets all statutory requirements and additional conditions agreed to by the project sponsors." Such reviews traditionally take about 30 days. If Peters and OMB approve the plan, it would go before Congress for a 60-day review. Beyond that, it would be up to congressional Appropriations committees to provide annual installments of the $900 million.
FTA代理管理员Sherry E. Little在一项耗资9亿美元的“全资金赠款协议”上的签约标志着该机构的转机。一月份，当时的联合会管理员詹姆斯·辛普森（James Simpson）表示，该项目的评级“将使它没有资格晋升为最终设计”。
弗吉尼亚州州长蒂姆·凯恩（D），正在管理该项目的大都会华盛顿机场管理局，然后其他官员开始工作，以解决辛普森提出的问题。在其他步骤中，他们将其成本减少了2.42亿美元或大约9％。更改后，FTA同意允许该项目进入最终设计，并为该工作释放了1.59亿美元的联邦资金。
As envisioned, the line ultimately would be a 23-mile spur of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Orange Line. Phase One is a 11.6-mile segment from the Metro East and West Falls Church stations, to Wiehle Ave, and includes five stations, four of which would be in the busy commercial area around Tysons Corner, near the Capital Beltway. The 11.5-mile, six-station second phase would carry the line to the airport and Route 772 in Loudoun County.
