Local leaders to pull funding for Dulles Metro project? (Documents)
Updated: April 14, 2011 - 07:02 am
A funding fight is taking place over Metro’s extension out to Dulles.
After last week’s controversial and more expensive decision to build a new airport station underground, local leaders are threatening to pull funding for the project.
Leaders in Fairfax and Loudoun County say they’ve written a letter to the airport authority telling them they are not willing to pay for the more expensive option of building the station underground - a decision that would raise the price tag by $330 million. The letter was approved by Fairfax's Board of Supervisors last night, and is expected to be approved by Loudoun County's board next week, officials say.
Last week, the Virginia transportation secretary said tolls would increase as a result of the decision, and the state would not tolerate it.
Leaders in Fairfax and Loudoun County say if the airport authority wants the more expensive version, they need to find a way to fund it that doesn’t require raising tolls or more money from local government. Their letter also demands the airport authority make decisions with local leaders and not by themselves.
Fairfax County Board chairman Sharon Bulova says MWAA should have brought Fairfax, Loudoun and Virginia transportations officials together before voting for an underground metro station at Dulles airport.
"We have and continue to support rail to Dulles but since the entire project is in Northern Virginia, we should have had our opinions concerned about the additional 300 million dollars that an underground station will add to the project.”
Bulova says she expects Loudoun officials to join Fairfax County leaders and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton in a push to get MWAA to change its vote.
But the airport authority argues that building a station underground would allow passengers to be brought right up to the terminal, unlike the above-ground station, which would likely require passengers to walk or take a shuttle.
Local leaders contend that the above-ground station is the best and most affordable option because it would be cheaper, safer and would take less time to build.
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chariman Scott York tells ABC7 that while he can't speak for the entire board, he is "hopeful" that they will all back the letter. York says that several board members have told him they prefer the aerial, outdoor station option.
The MWAA says that they have no response to the letter yet because they have not officially received it. The Loudoun County Board is deciding whether to sign on or send the letter.
Most of the people we spoke to say they are siding with the cheaper option in an effort to save money.
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