Funding agreement reached for Dulles rail project

An agreement, pending approval, has been reached to fund Phase 2 of the Dulles Silver Line Rail project, which will extend Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority service from Wiehle Avenue in Reston, Virginia to eastern Loudoun County via Dulles International Airport. "This is a huge win for the Washington Metropolitan region. This project will create thousands of good paying jobs, bolster the economy, and relieve traffic congestion in Northern Virginia," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The agreement will reduce the cost of the Phase 2 project by hundreds of millions of dollars and keep tolls more affordable for Dulles Toll Road users. The commonwealth of Virginia has agreed to contribute $150 million to Phase 2 and the project will be eligible for federal assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Department of Transportation, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the commonwealth of Virginia pending approval from the counties, airport and transit authority boards, which is expected before the end of the year.