Thursday, January 24, 2013
Though Phase 2 construction has yet to begin, process is underway for art in the six future stations.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is seeking artists to contribute public art works at Phase 2 Silver Line Metro stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), will place works at six future Silver Line stations. The art will promote transit use, enhance travel by Metro, and highlight the cultural vitality of the National Capital region, according to materials from Metro. MWAA is managing the design and construction of the Silver Line Project, the Metro extension that is set to begin operating at the end of 2013. Phase 1 of Silver Line will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, which does not yet have a construction start date, will …
Friday, December 28, 2012
As scheduled, tolls on the on/off ramps and at main plaza to rise by 25 cents.
The cost of driving on the Dulles Toll Road is about to rise again on Tuesday. Beginning Jan. 1, the toll rate on the Dulles Toll Road will increase by 25 cents at the Main Toll Plaza to $1.75. Toll rates on the on/off ramps will increase by 25 cents to $1. These amounts were previously set in a November hearing, but the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has deferred making a decision on tolls for 2015. There will be an additional increase in January 2014 to $2.50 at the main plaza. The toll increases are necessary, in part, for the Airports Authority to operate and maintain the Dulles Toll Road and to construct the Metrorail Silver Line, which will begin operating in Dec. 2013. While Phase 1 of the Silver Line is being built …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will receive award Tuesday from the Dulles Corridor Rail Association.
The Dulles Corridor Rail Association board of directors will present an award to US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at its annual meeting Tuesday in Tysons Corner. LaHood, who stepped in to form a compromise among stakeholders to reduce costs for the Silver Line's Phase 2 in 2011 and to keep Loudoun County from pulling out of the project in 2012, will also be the guest speaker at the event. DCRA Chairman Del. Kenneth Plum and Vice Chairman Del, Thomas D. Rust will present the award to the Secretary, according to a news release. Fairfax County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova will provide welcoming remarks. The Silver Line Phase 1 is on schedule and more than 80 percent completed. It is scheduled to open in December 2103. For more on the…
Retired Fairfax County Executive appointed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Anthony H. Griffin, who retired in April after 13 years as the Fairfax County Executive, has been appointed to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors. Griffin, who was appointed to the 17-member board by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, is currently a faculty member at George Mason University’s Department of Public and International Affairs and is the at-large Board Member of the Fairfax County Water Authority. He replaces board member Michael O'Reilly, whose term ended in November. MWAA, which manages and operates Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, also oversees the Dulles Airport Access Road, the Dulles Toll Road and construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of Metro into …
Friday, November 2, 2012
In statement, regional panel welcomes report, while letter to LaHood criticizes interference.
A long-awaited report about the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s Inspector General calls for actions beyond what the regional panel has already undertaken. MWAA, responsible for constructing Metro’ Silver Line project from Falls Church to Ashburn, came under fire for lax oversight of its members. The IG report also raises questions about whether the organization’s policies permit favoritism in awarding contracts and nepotism in awarding jobs. For the full report, see the PDF attached to this article. After an interim report from the IG, MWAA approved a new travel policy and code of ethics, revised bylaws for board members and its Freedom of Information Policy and terminated contracts with…
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
One reader makes the case that MWAA simply insulates elected officials from angry constituents.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
To the Editor: Most people have heard of the endless problems with MWAA (the guys in charge of Metro’s Silver Line construction) and their reckless spending. Still, our state and local governments keep ignoring their bad reputation when it comes to their management of the Silver Line construction. Loudoun and Virginia are handing over our taxes and tolls knowing MWAA has no incentive for efficiency. They answer to no one, at any level of government. If you want to know where the wasted billions go look at the names of companies on the campaign contributions of those who push this crony-driven spendfest. I expect you'll see the lobbyists, the contractors and the developers making hefty investments in the campaign accounts of these officials…
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Loudoun Chamber president Tony Howard makes the case for additional state transportation funding and cooperation in the General Assembly.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Last month, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority held several public hearings to gather public input on the proposal to raise tolls on the Dulles Toll Road to pay for Virginia‘s share of the Dulles Rail Project. Though these toll hikes are planned to fund Virginia’s share of the project, MWAA was the one vilified by the opponents of this project. On Oct. 17, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors will stage a public hearing on the proposal to create two special tax districts in eastern Loudoun to pay for the County’s share of the project. No doubt the loyal opposition will again be out in force to oppose these tax districts and the completion of the Dulles Rail Project that is favored by 80 percent of Loudoun residents. But even …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A Purcellville resident makes his case for alternate funding of Metro.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I am against increasing the tolls on the Dulles Toll Road; particularly the plans proposed to use those tolls to finance Metro's Silver Line. It is unfair and appears to be targeted at a particular segment of people who happen to commute daily on the Toll Road or businesses that employ folks in the area. It is also unwise given wages are not keeping pace with increasing costs, especially those folks in low-pay or entry-level type jobs. There is no guarantee that any sort of economic growth will sustain the development and maintenance of the planned extension of the Silver Line given business-preferred strategy to outsource jobs to drive down wages. If Metro wants to extend the Silver Line then Metro should pay for it from the revenues …
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Leesburg resident pleads for another funding plan for the Silver Line.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Editor, It is ridiculous that Loudoun residents pay higher tolls to subsidize train and airport riders. MWAA should add toll booths to the Airport access road to cover costs for train construction since it benefits airport users and MWAA employees traveling to Airport. Instead they are unfairly putting the burden on toll road users who may never use the rail system. It is also short sighted. You will force me to use alternatives to the toll road and lose my business. I will not be alone with this approach. I use the toll road twice a day and have for over 20 years. Soon I will not be able to afford my commute and will be forced to look for longer alternatives. What gets me is that we pay substantial state and county road taxes already and …
Friday, September 14, 2012
"It was a rotten formula at the start whose stench only gets worse with each passing year and the skyrocketing tolls that come with it."
- OPINION
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Friday, September 14, 2012
With another increasingly expensive round of toll fee hikes in the offing for users of the Dulles Toll Road, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), AAA Mid-Atlantic wants to reiterate clearly and loudly its opposition. We understand that someone has to pay for the $6 billion cost of the construction of the Silver Line, but the overriding question in our mind is just who that should be. At last check, local motorists, via their tolls, are being forced to shoulder nearly 60% of the costs of this project. The Commonwealth of Virginia, until pushed hard by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, had no cash in the pot—it sole contribution was to be the tolls paid by motorists. Now, after LaHood’s arm …
David A. LaRock
10:40 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
David to Navid, please quote the source of this nonsensical accusation.. or is this what you toss out when you feel threatened and your debate points don't add up? FYI, I have spent thousands of hours laboring to unskew the seemingly endless flow of pro-train propaganda. All of it trying to invent benefit and disguise that Dulles Rail is an economic stimulus/ spendfest that redistributes precious… more ›