Loudoun Board to Consider Compromise to Cut Metro Costs

A compromise proposal to lower the cost of the Metro project to bring rail Dulles Airport and Ashburn goes to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors Wednesday during the board’s business meeting. The proposal would lower the project cost from $3.83 billion to about $2.77 billion, and reduce the county’s responsibility for construction from about $315 million to about $265 million, according to a county staff report. However, the compromise would remove parking garages, which the county would have to pursue through public-private partnerships.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood proposed the compromise.

The compromise Proposal consists of the following, with all costs being considered against the late 2010 gross project cost of $3.83 billion:

1. Airport Station to be an Aerial Station adjacent to the North Garage for a savings of $562 million.
2. Enclose and add climate control to the Airport Aerial Station at a cost of $10 million.
3. Reduce the size of the Rail Yard at the Airport for a savings of $81 million.
4. Transfer responsibility of the Route 28 Station to Fairfax County for a savings of $136 million.
5. Transfer responsibility of the five (5) parking structures to the Counties for a savings of $225 million.
6. Reduce the canopy design for Phase 2 stations for a savings of $15 million.
7. Change structural design elements from concrete to steel for a savings of $35 million.
8. Modify Station finishes for a savings of $4 million.

For more information, including the staff report, visit the county’s web page on the project.