MWAA: Capital Rail Constructors in Lead for Metro Bid

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 submitted by Capital Rail Constructors and the potential savings it includes,” said Pat Nowakowski, executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. “This has been a very successful competitive procurement process.”

Nowakowski, mirroring statement by Gov. Bob McDonnell, said the low bids mean lower toll hikes on the Dulles Toll Road. Those tolls are the primary source of funding for the project’s second phase.

MWAA now will obtain additional information from CRC, including insurance certificates, and payment and performance bonds. A final award of the contract is expected in May.

The contract in question includes construction of six Metro stations, 11.4 miles of track and guideways, and wayside components. The stations are:

• Reston Town Center
• Herndon
• Innovation Center
• Washington Dulles International Airport
• Route 606
• Route 772/Ashburn

Additional contracts will be opened for bid in the near future for the rail yard and parking garages.

The Silver Line project is being construction through a partnership between Loudoun and Fairfax counties and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  MWAA was tasked with heading up construction of the project before turning the new rail line over to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates Metro.