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 …
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. …
Friday, January 25, 2013
The primary obstacle for the transportation system appears to be funding.
Less than a year after the Loudoun Board of Supervisors signed on to a Metrorail project that would bring the new Silver Line to two stations in Ashburn, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has a proposed a series of list if improvements to help the system keep up with demand estimated to cost $26 billion. The Washington Post has a story here. The main snag in the way of the plan, which WMATA board members praised, appears to be where to obtain funding for the project. In Loudoun, opponents of the county’s participation in the Silver Line project often pointed to the unknown cost of capital needs for Metro, and Loudoun’s responsibility for those costs. During the county’s debate about whether to participate, WMATA …
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, including two in Ashburn. 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 …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Patch takes a look behind-the-scenes look at iconic hub.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- James Cullum
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
So much has happened to Washington Dulles International Airport since President John F. Kennedy dedicated it in 1962. The airport, located on 12,000 acres in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, recently underwent a multi-million dollar expansion, adding a fourth runway, expanded gates and buildings, and a new airport traffic control tower. In addition, local government bodies recently signed on to build Metro's Silver Line, which includes a stop at the airport. About 23 million travelers visit Dulles Airport annually, and that number is expected to continue growing. The main terminal is unmistakable – architect Eero Saarinen called it the best building he'd ever designed – and as such has appeared in movies like Airport, Die Hard II and Body of …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Loudoun board signs off so assessments can begin by Jan. 1 to pay for Silver Line.
The Loudoun Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted to authorize a series of new tax districts to pay for Loudoun's share of Metro's Silver Line project. The vote included most of the properties in those district, but does not include several additions in the Redrum Road area east of Ashburn Village Boulevard. A public hearing on those additions will take place Dec. 11. Also, most of the properites south of S. Sterling Boulevard initially identified in the district were omitted. The board voted 7-1-1 to establish the district. Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) voted against the motion and Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large) was not at the meeting. A more detailed story will be published later.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The owner of Minton’s Music sent a letter to supervisors explaining the burden to local entrepreneurs.
Minton’s Academy of Music owner Larry Minton shared the following letter he sent to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors with Ashburn Patch: November 27, 2012 Dear Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, First, let me tell you who we are: My name is Larry Minton and for the past 10 years my wife and I have owned and operated a music school in the Ashburn Tech Park. Both my wife and I work approximately 70 hours per week. No lie! If you’re not familiar with small business and small business owners, let me assure you that we are not unique in this. We have watched countless small businesses in this area unable to survive due to the cost of doing business. It’s very expensive here. A recent Jeopardy question asked, “What is the most expensive …
Friday, November 16, 2012
A reader shared this letter to the board of supervisors asking to leave Ashburn Technology Park out of the district.
- OPINION
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Chairman York and Loudoun Board of Supervisors, I am one of the leasers in the Ashburn Technology Park, a property on Waxpool Road that you have recently proposed to move into the Metro Tax District. I cannot express how disappointed I am that you decided to bring this property into the discussion. For some of you that may not know it, most leasers are responsible for their prorated portion of the property taxes for the building or property they occupy. While I am unsure that double dipping Raging Wire, (selling them the adjacent property and now charging them additional taxes), will hurt their bottom line, this could be the final straw for many of us, the small businesses just hanging on. My company will not get any direct benefit from …
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…
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Activist opposed to tolls for Metro says the business community should pay to keep tolls low, not state or federal government.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
Well look out folks, Tony the Chamber guy is back from his big win selling that shiny train to the trusting people of Loudoun. This time he is after, you guessed it, a tax increase to cover the tab for all these ambitious new projects. But before launching into a response to Mr. Howard, I want to say how glad I am that the President & CEO of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is concerned about soaring tolls, as he should be. Why? Because tolls are just like taxes. They pick pockets and make people and businesses want to go elsewhere. Tony knows that. In fact I’ll bet he knows that SAIC, one of the largest employers in Tysons, is so excited to have a new Metro stop coming to their front door in Tysons that they are going to build the …
joe brewer
8:58 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Really, what source do you have for that information? more ›