Tysons Business Center

The Dulles Metro Rail project will definitely be happening now.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters gave the final federal seal of approval to plans to extend Metrorail to Dulles International Airport last night, ensuring that the $5.2 billion project can move forward without restrictions.

After a series of regulatory setbacks in 2008, rail to Dulles was revived last month when the Federal Transit Administration discarded long-standing skepticism about the project’s cost and management and sent it on to Peters for final action. Yesterday’s news marks what state, local and congressional boosters said is the government’s irreversible approval of the project.

Tunnel supporters have may have some new hope with new President-elect Barack Obama. Perhaps the incoming administration will support the option to have the Tysons project go underground.

The incoming administration may put serious consideration into the option, according to Scott Monett, president of TysonsTunnel, the grass-roots organization that has raised more than $4 million since 2006 to fight the elevated-track design.

Under the tunnel supporters’ proposed widebore tunneling design, trains would travel through a single tunnel and the station platform would be in the tunnel itself. There is no specific deadline to consider the option — since changes to projects can occur after a Full Funding Grant Agreement has been granted.

The Obama administration is “very progressive and is looking for environmentally-oriented developments,” he said. “This will set the stage for how transit-oriented development occurs in large cities.”

From www.dullesmetro.com:

The Federal Transit Administration has approved the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to advance the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project extension from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue into Final Design. The FTA said the project now meets the “threshold for entry into Final Design” and outlines the process for obtaining a Full Funding Grant Agreement.

The Airports Authority is working with the FTA to secure the Full Funding Grant Agreement and the Authority now anticipates starting construction of Phase 1 of the Metrorail project in March 2009.

Meanwhile, the $159 million in federal funds which has been released for the project can be used for:
· Right-of-way acquisitions
· Reimbursement of third party preliminary engineering costs
· Continuing with utility relocations
· Final design work
· Project administration
· Maintenance of traffic efforts
· Engineering and design of rail cars

In addition, the FTA is releasing an additional $14 million to be used for site preparation work near the entrance to a future 2,100 -foot tunnel under the intersection of Routes 123 and 7.

from dullesmetro.com

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 12 said it is approving the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to advance the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project extension from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue into Final Design. The FTA said the project now meets the “threshold for entry into Final Design” and outlines the process for obtaining a Full Funding Grant Agreement.

In addition to releasing the $159.7 million, the notification says the federal funds can be used for:

* Right-of-way acquisitions
* Reimbursement of third party preliminary engineering costs
* Continuing with utility relocations
* Final Design Work
* Project administration
* Maintenance of traffic efforts
* Engineering and design of rail cars

Supporters make another push for tunnel under Tysons Corner
from Washington Business Journal

The Sierra Club sent that Fairfax County Board of Supervisors a letter July 26 asking the board to lead the effort by requiring the project’s sponsor — the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Virginia Department of Transportation — to ask the Federal Transit Administration to perform an environmental review for widebore tunneling.

This time around, tunnel supporters have backing from Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Oberstar stated his support for the tunnel option earlier this month.

Taken from www.dullesmetro.com:

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Moves Ahead

Utility Relocations and Right-of-Way Acquisitions Proceeding in Tysons Corner

Construction crews, cranes, and bright orange cones along Route 7 signal progress on the relocations of utilities along the Route 7 and Route 123 corridors in Tysons Corner. This is in preparation for the future construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

This work increased after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the request by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to move the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project into the Final Design phase of the FTA’s New Starts process on May 12.

Project officials work daily with businesses near the construction zones to minimize disruptions. Traffic patterns are changing, but access to all businesses remain open.

The project team is also working to update its financial plans and is following the FTA process for obtaining a $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreement.

When FTA approved the project into Final Design, they committed approximately $159 million for continuing project design, utility relocations, engineering, and project administration.

Monday evening, supporters of TysonsTunnel.org gathered at a local restaurant to find out where the Tysons Metro project stands and what the group plans to do next. Coverage of the night’s events can be found at RaisingKaine.com. The Washington Business Journal was there as well. Scott Monett, TysonsTunnel President, made it clear that his group is not an anti-transit group, as they are often incorrectly perceived to be.

Monett posted this document comparing the pros and cons of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems and light rail transit (LRT) systems after a reader commented that a BRT system should be looked at as an alternative to the rail.

It’s good to see that there is still support for the tunnel. We believe the best solution is a tunnel through Tysons and an elevated rail for the line to Dulles.