Phase 2 of D.C.'s Dulles Silver Line receives $598M in loans
When combined with the $1.278 billion TIFIA loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that closed in August, the U.S. Department of Transportation has provided $1.87 billion in TIFIA loans to support the construction of Phase Two, which represents the largest TIFIA assistance for a single project in the program’s history.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the closing of a $403 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for Fairfax County and a $195 million TIFIA loan for Loudoun County to fund construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.
When combined with the $1.278 billion TIFIA loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that closed in August, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has provided $1.87 billion in TIFIA loans to support the construction of Phase Two, which represents the largest TIFIA assistance for a single project in the program’s history.
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Work has begun at the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail 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.
Secretary Foxx joined other U.S. Department of Transportation officials along with state and local elected leaders in July to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Silver Line, which represented the largest expansion of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (Metro) 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 Silver Line is being constructed by MWAA and operated by Metro. The new line is expected to serve approximately 85,700 daily riders by 2030.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.
The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
