The Silver Line is being constructed by MWAA and operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The new line is expected to serve approximately 85,700 daily riders by 2030.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) was awarded a $1.28 billion Transportation Infrastructure Financial Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to for construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.
Work will begin at the Wiehle Avenue Station, where Phase One work ended, and includes construction of 11.4 miles of track from Wiehle Avenue to Route 772 in eastern Loudoun County. Six new stations will also be constructed along the way — Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Route 606 and Route 772, and a new Service and Inspection Yard at Dulles International.
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“The first phase of the Silver Line has been an overwhelming success, and we look forward to ensuring the second half is just as successful, with the help of this $1.28 billion loan from the federal government,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “When complete, the Silver Line will help residents and visitors get where they need to go safely, quickly and affordably."
The Silver Line is being constructed by MWAA and operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro). The new line is expected to serve approximately 85,700 daily riders by 2030.
Secretary Foxx joined other U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) officials along with state and local elected leaders last month to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Silver Line, which represented the largest expansion of Metrorail service in 20 years.
The first phase extended Metrorail service from the East Falls Church Metrorail station through the large Tysons Corner employment and retail center to the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail station in the Reston area of Fairfax County. Metro announced that during its first week of service alone, nearly 220,000 trips were taken.
The TIFIA credit program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial non-federal investments. Each dollar of federal funding can provide up to $10 in TIFIA credit assistance and support up to $30 in transportation infrastructure investment.
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Since its launch, the TIFIA program has helped 46 projects turn almost $18.5 billion in U.S. DOT assistance into more than $69.5 billion in infrastructure investment across America.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
