UPDATE 2/6: Dulles Rail Backers Encouraged by U.S. Report

Updated 2/6
From today's Metro section:

A Federal Transit Administration report issued yesterday left unrated the proposed rail line to Dulles International Airport, which supporters viewed as a sign that the $5 billion project might win federal approval.

The FTA's annual report assessed various transit projects seeking federal funding.

Backers of the 23-mile Dulles extension expected the report to give it a failing grade because of recent warnings from federal regulators that the project was unlikely to qualify for $900 million in U.S. funds.

Several congressional sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of negotiations, said they were pleasantly surprised with the report.

FTA spokesman Wes Irvin said it would have been "unfair" to give Dulles rail a poor rating in the report, which was assembled in the fall as the agency awaited information from Virginia about the project's cost, management and timeline. "It was a snapshot in time from November," he said.

-- Amy Gardner

Updated 1/29
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has said she will wait until she has had time to consult with Gov. Kaine before she issues a final decision on whether to withhold federal funding for the project. That story is here and links to more coverage of the recent developments can be found here.

Updated 1/25
According to today's front page article, federal financing for the project looks increasingly doubtful, effectively scuttling the project, 40 years in the making.

Updated 1/24
Federal and state officials are meeting today to discuss the future of the rail line. Read the news here.

Updated 12/17
A front page Washington Post article on the latest risks to the future of the Metrorail extension to Dulles can be found here.

Updated 8/29
A front page story in this morning's edition of The Washington Post presents a look at the various problems that threaten to squash a Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport, even before the project begins construction.

Updated 8/22
If the commonwealth doesn't want to lose federal money for Dulles rail it needs to trim $250 million from the first leg of the project according to this article from yesterday's Metro section.

Updated 8/3
Check out this article from today's Metro section for news on the latest wrinkle on the plan to extend rail to Dulles.

Updated 8/1
In this article from today's Metro section, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly says that a Bush administration bias against mass transit projects is partly to blame for difficulties in securing federal funding for the Dulles Metrorail project.

Originally posted 7/30
Federal funding to complete a Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport may be in jeopardy. The cost estimates for the project have grown so in the last three years that the project may no longer qualify. The story was in Saturday's Metro section.

By Focus on Fairfax |  January 25, 2008; 11:19 AM ET  | Category:  Government , Transportation
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