Thursday, May 16, 2013
With the contractor selected, the first of several “milestones” begins for the Metro line creeping toward Ashburn.
The notion of riding Metro from a station in Ashburn to Reston Town Center, Tysons Corner or Washington, DC, moved another small step toward reality Wednesday when the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors cemented its selection of Capital Rail Constructors to build Phase 2 of the Silver Line. “This is the first of many milestones to come for the second phase of the Silver Line,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO. Phase 1 of the 23-mile extension runs from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue and could begin carrying passengers by the end of the year. Passengers will be able to stay on Silver Line trains East of Falls Church because they will share the Orange Line track. While the contract award for Phase 2 marks …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A group that includes Clarke Construction, Kiewit Infrastructure, Parsons and Dewberry will build Phase 2.
After previous announcing plans intent to pick Capital Rail Constructors as the contractor for the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line project, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority made it official Wednesday. The CRC group – which includes Clarke Construction Group, Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., Parsons Transportation and Dewberry – will extend the line from the first phase’s last station at Wiehle Avenue in Reston to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn. “This is the first of many milestones to come for the second phase of the Silver Line,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO. “The Phase 2 contract, awarded through a competitive bid process, and with the coordination and collaboration of our project partners, is moving …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Supervisors in Loudoun are counting on saving from a federal loan; express desire to engage MWAA on airport development.
The most notable elements of a presentation Wednesday about the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line were news that the project appears to be nearing final approval for a federal loan that will save Loudoun millions and concerns about potential development on Dulles International Airport property. Last month, bids came in for the bulk of the project and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the entity tasked with constructing the project, indicated it would likely chose a $1.18 billion bid by Capital Rail Constructors, which includes Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South. That bid was lower than the anticipated $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion cost. Loudoun’s share of the project equals 4.8 percent of the total …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The group, which includes Clark Construction and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., submitted the low bid, and the contract is likely be awarded in May for Silver Line phase 2.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority sent notice to Capital Rail Constructors that its on track to be named the contractor of the second phase of the Metro Silver Line. The second phase will extend the Silver line from Reston to Ashburn, with a stop at Dulles International Airport. The news came in the form of an announcement of the Notice of Recommended Award identifying the CRC, which consists of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South Company. The group came in with the lowest out of five bids at just under $1.18 billion, but the announcement does not yet guarantee the project to CRC. The bids that came in were lower than the estimated cost of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion. “We are very encouraged by the price …
Friday, April 19, 2013
Contractors estimate costs of $1.1 to more than $1.3 billion.
Five contractors - including Reston-based Bechtel - have entered bids to construct Phase 2 of Metro's Silver Line, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Friday. The bids ranged from $1.1 to $1.3 billion. Phase 2 is the 11.4-mile segment of the Silver Line that will run from Reston's Wiehle Avenue to Dulles International Airport and into Ashburn, Phase 1 of the Silver Line, from Tysons Corner to Wiehle Avenue, is nearly completed and scheduled to open in December. MWAA said Friday the award of the Phase 2 contract will occur after a review to validate that each proposal properly responds to the solicitation. “Today is a significant step toward the selection of the design-build contractor for Phase 2,” Pat Nowakowski, …
Friday, March 29, 2013
The contractors plans to deliver project on time, but contingencies are in place to keep rail on track.
After reports that delays on a rail yard project at West Falls Church could delay the start date for the Metro’s Silver Line, a representative for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority denies the claim. MWAA is constructing the 23-mile Silver Line extension. Marcia McAllister, spokeswoman for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, an arm of MWAA, acknowledged the contractor’s schedule had slipped on the Falls Church rail yard. The rail yard is needed to help accommodate the additional trains operating along the Silver Line, which will run from East Falls Church to Reston in its first phase and beyond to Ashburn when complete. McAllister said the part of the rail yard project experiencing delays was a service and inspection …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Some on county board to the east looking into option to reduce impact on tolls.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
MWAA expects to complete construction in late summer and turn the rail line over to Metro.
Among a series of interesting tidbits to come from Thursday’s Committee for Dulles meeting in Ashburn was a clue about when the first passengers will be able to ride Metro’s Silver Line, a 23-mile extension of the rail system from East Falls Church to Ashburn. The project previously was broken into two phases. Phase one, from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, is nearing completion as the second phase, from Wiehle to Ashburn, begins moving forward. There are really two important dates coming up for the project's first phase: completion of construction and the day passengers begin riding. “We will be completing the work in late summer,” said Marcia McAllister, a spokeswoman for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. DCMR became …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Three allegedly worked with GOP in Virginia to oust Democrats from the organization responsible for building the Silver Line.
Three members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors allegedly actively worked with Republican officials in Virginia to orchestrate the removal of Mame Reiley and union supporter Dennis Martire from the board, according to a story published Wednesday on American University Radio's (WAMU 88.5) website. MWAA and its board have come under scrutiny in recent years after an audit discovered questionable practices, including sweetheart deals for former board members, questionable travel expenses and nepotism. Martire was among those named for his activities, particularly an expensive trip on behalf of the organization. The Democratic members were removed, despite the internal review of MWAA raising much broader …
Friday, February 1, 2013
The new strategic plan aims to take Metro through 2040.
A $26 billion strategic plan released by Metro last week gave a glimpse at the agency's vision — which includes several substantial recommendations like new Potomac River crossings and new metro stations — for taking the transit agency into 2025, 2040 and beyond. Called Metro Momentum, the plan acknowledged piecemeal fixes to an aging system are barely scraping the surface of the transit agency's needs and a growing DC region, whose population is expected grow 30 percent over the next three decades. "Our customers know that many trains, stations and buses are already crowded and we need to begin planning now to prevent that from worsening and prepare for more riders,” Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles said in a press release. …
Bob Bruhns
8:09 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Great! Maybe MWAA, Fairfax County and Loudoun County can make good financing arrangements for this phase of the rail construction now. We won't know, until MONTHS after the ground is broken. Amazingly, this project was allowed to proceed while the financing was uncertain. What are we teaching our children here? "Yes kids, this is the right and proper way to build public infrastructure. First, … more ›