The Federal Transit Administration has committed $158.7 million dollars into funding the Washington Metro Rail extension towards Dulles Airport. Doubling the previous amount of funding, the FTA has allowed the project to go into its final design phase.
A survey conducted by conducted by iQ Research & Consulting has reported that 93% of Northern Virginians favor the Metro Rail extension. The poll, done by random digit dial technique, has a margin error of ±4.4%. With rising gas prices, increased congestion, it is understandable that people want an alternative to driving. With 11 stations on the route, the Metro Rail will not only serve air travelers heading to and from DC, but also a fair amount of commuters.
Metro Rail has to solve a few more problems before the federal government can grant the whole $900 million promised. Phase 1 of this project,a branch that will spur of the Orange Line ending in Reston, will have to be finished by 2012. This stops a few stations short of the airport. Final extension to the airport comes in Phase 2. The subway system also has to address $489 million in capital repairs. Finally, project officials may not allow the costs to rise. The final pricetag for both phases is $5.1 billion.
The 23 mile-route, to be completed by 2015, will finally connect Dulles International Airport, a major airline hub that lacks many public transit alternatives to enter into the city. Reagon National Airportcloser to the city already has its own subway station.
Photo by flickr user :/. Used under the Creative Commons License 2.0.
