Fairfax County approves streetcar funds

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Fairfax County

Fairfax County in Virginia approved funding preliminary engineering designs for the planned Columbia Pike Streetcar, a joint project with Arlington County, which serves as the lead partner for the project.

 

At its October 7, 2014 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved $4.2 million to pay for the county’s share for these design costs, which includes funds to pay for project management as well.

The design work authorized includes developing 30 percent engineering plans for the roadway, track alignment, power, signals, stations and facilities; vehicle specifications and updated construction cost estimates. This work is expected to take 18 months. The Columbia Pike Streetcar is scheduled to open in 2020.

“The Columbia Pike Streetcar project provides a high-quality travel solution in a busy transit corridor,” said Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova. “The streetcar supports the community’s vision for revitalizing Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners and this connection could serve as the start of a regional streetcar system. I am glad to be able to partner with Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue work on developing this important project.”

Under this phase of the project, Fairfax will pay for 19.6 percent of the total costs for the proposed streetcar line. Arlington will pay the remaining 80.4 percent. Officials estimate the 4.9-mile streetcar line will cost $333 million in total. Fairfax’s total contribution to the project is estimated at $65 million.

Although the majority of the streetcar line is in Arlington, Fairfax County’s three stations are planned for the Baileys area of Fairfax County: Goodwin House, Jefferson Street and Skyline.

In September, Arlington County selected HDR Inc. for preliminary design and engineering work for the streetcar line.

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