LaHood signs $900M agreement to fund D.C. Metrorail project

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood committed $900 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) funds through 2016 to the $3.1 billion Wiehle Avenue Extension of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. 

Participating in the full funding grant agreement ceremony at U.S. DOT headquarters were Secretary LaHood, Gov. Tim Kaine, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Chairman H.R. Crawford, members of the Virginia congressional delegation and other MWAA officials.

“This project comes at a pivotal point as the Obama Administration begins to make vast improvements to our nation’s top transit systems,” Secretary LaHood said. “It will create construction jobs, encourage economic development opportunities and help Tysons Corner become a more livable community.”

The 11.7-mile heavy rail line will be an extension to the existing Metrorail system just east of the West Falls Church station through Tysons Corner to its terminus at Wiehle Ave., in Reston, Va. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will operate the line from the Stadium-Armory station in Washington, D.C., to Wiehle Ave. MWAA plans to design and construct a second phase, which will extend the line beyond Dulles Airport into Loudoun County.

The extension is projected to serve 85,700 daily riders by 2030, including an estimated 10,000 new daily transit riders.