Politics & Government

MWAA Expects to Finish Metro Silver Line Phase 1 in November

Once construction and initial testing is finished, WMATA will begin testing the line before passengers ride sometime in early 2014.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Wednesday that it anticipates turning Metro’s Silver Line keys over for final testing in November.

MWAA was tasked with construction of the roughly $6 billion project, which was broken into two phases. Upon completion, the first phase will run from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, including four stops in Tysons Corner. Phase two will extend the line to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn.

MWAA announced that it is on track for a November substantial completion date. That’s the date upon which control of the rail line will be transferred from MWAA to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Metro’s operator. While contractors had hopes to complete the project by the end of summer, a few delays pushed that date back.

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“We are looking forward to the day when passengers ride the Silver Line,” said MWAA president and CEO Jack Potter in a prepared statement. “We are nearing the completion of Phase 1, but we will not sacrifice quality for speed. Safety and performance are always our top priorities.” 

WMATA will announce the date the Silver Line will open once safety tests are complete.

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