1 day after talking to bloggers, Metro's Catoe announces resignation

Catoe stepping down after three years at the helm -
Not even 24 hours after he sat down with leading D.C. bloggers, including my former colleague Tom Bridge of We Love DC, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager John Catoe announced he would resign on April 2. The move signals the end of Catoe's rocky 3 years as WMATA head saw the nation's second largest subway system suffer its worst accident on June 22 (Red Line crash is worst Metro accident ever ), several employees killed on the job, a number of suicides on the tracks and worsening service. To blame Catoe, a D.C. native, for these incidents would be unfair, but he has not been able to reverse the trend. Catoe's career was more focused on buses than rails which may have hindered his time in charge. His quote about the safety problems becoming "an unhealthy distraction" is telling though. Safety problems are not what I call a "distraction." Ultimately though, the problems of an aging system and the economic crisis has been Metro's biggest problems.

As soon as I heard the news, I wondered if Dan Tangherlini would be a candidate to replace Catoe. In 2006, Tangherlini was interim general manager of Metro to great acclaim. He wanted the job permanently, but when the WMATA board wanted an extended search, Tangherlini took a job with the Adrian Fenty administration (Tangherlini leaving Metro to return to District government). I remember when Tangherlini left I told a few people that he might get another shot someday. I don't envy him if it is now though, the outlook for Metro is grim on just about all fronts.

Metro General Manager John Catoe Jr. to resign - The Post

Metro, WMATA,Mass Transit, John Catoe, Dan Tangherlini

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posted by WFY @ 8:49 PM | |

Red Line crash is worst Metro accident ever

There has been a terrible collision between two Metro trains in Northeast D.C. this evening with at least six killed and scores injured.

Red Line Collision Kills at Least Six - The Post

WeLoveDC.com is liveblogging the situation.

UPDATE, TUESDAY MORNING: Former blogging colleague Tom Bridge of WeLoveDC.com on CTV. One note, Canadian TV crews ought to improve their U.S. geography.

Metro, WMATA, REd Line,Mass Transit, crash, dc

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posted by WFY @ 8:34 PM | |

TysonsTunnel.org, Sierra Club sue for underground Silver Line

Groups to sue over Metro's expansion - WTOP
A potential delay to the Silver Line, already being constructed through Tysons Corner, has emerged:

The group, TysonsTunnel.org, has been pushing for an underground route through the area. It is teaming up with the environmental group, Sierra Club, to file the suit.

A national watchdog group is expected to join the suit.

Scott A. Monett, president of TysonsTunnel and the vice chair of the Sierra Club's Great Falls group, won't name the watchdog group, but does say it's a "good governance group."

Again, too little too late. While I would have preferred an underground Metro line through Tysons Corner for long term cost and aesthetic concerns, I can live with an above ground one. The mobilization for making sure the Silver Line was a tunnel came years too late. This suit, if it does not get thrown out, will just add years to the construction and millions to the cost.

Silver Spring seems to do just fine with the Red Line elevated through it, so I think Tysons will too. Crystal City gets by with having an airport and at-grade railroad adjacent to it as well and nobody seems to mind.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

District will pay to keep Metro open for late Nats games

In Change, City Will Cover Metro Fees for Late Night Games - The Post
This morning, I wrote a post about the District's decision to stop paying Metro to keep the trains running after Nats games that go past regular closing time. I had it scheduled to go live at 10 a.m. However, the District reversed the decision:

In an about-face, a top District official says the city will cover the costs for Metro to extend its hours to accommodate ticket holders at Washington Nationals games that are rain-delayed or go late because of extra innings.

"We want people to have a wonderful time at the games and not be stranded on the way out," Deputy Mayor Neil O. Albert said today.

Albert's comments came after District transportation director Gabe Klein informed Metro officials in a letter last week that the city would no longer pay the late-service fee because of the city's budget difficulties. Team officials said they did not find out about the change in policy until Monday night, when a rain delay pushed the game past Metro's midnight closing.

Albert said the confusion about the city's payment of late-service fees was the result of "one part of the administration not communicating with another part of the administration."

This should not be too big a deal, given the 1-3 times a year this tends to happen. The front office ought to keep this in mind next time though, rookie pitcher or not.

Washington Nationals, Nats, Metro, WMATA, dc

Labels: Metro, Nats/MLB 2009, The District, Transportation, Washington Nationals

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posted by WFY @ 12:06 PM | |

Metro's Nats plans for Opening Day, season

Take Metro to cheer for the Nationals this season - WMATA
Metro has issued a press release about Nationals Park Opening Day. Among the details:

On Monday, April 13, the regular season home opener for the Washington Nationals, Metro will start afternoon rush hour service at 1 p.m., a full two hours before the start of the baseball game. Metro expects to carry about 20,000 people to and from Nationals Park for the 3:05 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies. With the game expected to conclude between 6 and 7 p.m., Metro will be operating rush hour service on all rail lines to accommodate the crowds.

Metro reminds everyone attending Monday’s home opener to expect large crowds at the Navy Yard Metrorail station, and the two main transfer stations to the Green Line, Gallery Place-Chinatown and L'Enfant Plaza. Metro will have personnel and Transit Police at all three stations.

Following the game, Metro volunteers sporting Nationals gear will be at the Navy Yard Metrorail station to remind patrons to check their SmarTrip card or farecard to ensure they have enough money to enter or exit the Metrorail system.

THe ride home could be a little hairy, maybe I can bum a ride off of someone back to Pentagon City where I am going to park.

Here are several resources for the whole season:

• Go Metro! Go Nats! Take Metro to Nationals Park. - WMATA
  
  
• The Way to Go - nationals.com

Some good news, the forecast is slightly better (high 55° F) for Monday than it was yesterday.


Washington Nationals, Nats, Metro, WMATA, subway, Opening Day, Nationals Park

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

How the Silver Line Metro is going to be built

Metrorail Heading In a New Direction - The Post
Details of what the Silver Line construction through Tysons Corner is going to be like over the next several years. It won't be much fun, but the payoff is huge.

Also: Map

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 2:48 PM | |

Metro Rail to Tysons -- Silver Line now official!

Officials Formalize Funding for Dulles Metro Extension - The Post
At long last, the Silver Line, a Metro corridor between Arlington and Tysons Corner is official!

...the real action will start in a matter of days about 15 miles to the west, where demolition of roads and bridges and heavy construction of overhead piers will become an unwelcome fact of life during the next six years for commuters and residents of McLean, Tysons Corner, Vienna and beyond. The result, boosters say, will be worth it: a public transit system serving the region's primary international airport and Virginia's most prosperous jobs corridor.

Today's ceremony at the Transportation Department's headquarters near the Washington Navy Yard featured a roster of local, state and federal luminaries seeking to revel in -- and take credit for -- the project's success. Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and former senator John Warner (R-Va.) were among those attending.

Emphasis added by me. This is long overdue and much needed. The next few years in Tysons may not be fun to commute to and from but it is not like it is right now.

The second phase of the project from Whiele Ave. to Ashburn still has some hurdles to clear.

New Metrorail Line Really Coming - Dr. Gridlock, The Post

Project Web site: Dulles Metrorail Project
I like the headline and the tone of this blog post which includes the backstory of the last year -- make sure you read it.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 12:16 PM | |

Silver Line gets final USDOT approval

U.S. Transportation Chief Backs Dulles Rail Project - The Post
The Silver Line is very, very close to being official.

After a series of regulatory setbacks in 2008, rail to Dulles was revived last month when the Federal Transit Administration discarded long-standing skepticism about the project's cost and management and sent it on to Peters for final action. Yesterday's news marks what state, local and congressional boosters said is the government's irreversible approval of the project.

All that remains for a sixty day comment period in Congress and then presumably the project is officially underway. Planned completion of the first phase of the line, between Whiele Ave. in Reston and West Falls Church is 2013. It will be thirty years too late, but better late than ever.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 12:05 PM | |

FTA officially says yes to Silver Line

Federal Regulators Sign Off on Dulles Rail Extension - The Post

The Federal Transit Administration approved the extension, which now heads to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and the Office of Management and Budget for final sign-off. Approval from the FTA, where regulators had attacked the proposal as too expensive and poorly managed, is widely viewed as a critical moment for a project that local and state officials say is crucial to relieve traffic and spur economic growth at Tysons Corner and along the Dulles corridor.

Feds approve first phase of Dulles Rail project - WTOP
This is great news for our region, this is a badly needed project. Hopefully Peters and OMB will sign off soon and the construction can really get going.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 6:11 AM | |

It will be elevated through Tysons Corner and in the median of the Dulles Toll/Access Road for the rest of the way, except at the airport I believe.

# posted by  WFY : Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:19:00 PM  

Schrag on Silver Line reversal

Recently, I reached out to George Mason University history professor Dr. Zachary Schrag for commentary on the Federal Transportation Administration's decision to continue funding the Dulles Corridor Metro line. He was kind enough to provide some commentary:

At this point, the history of the Silver Line has been marked by such tangles of planning, engineering, architecture, finance, and politics that it rivals in complexity the decision to build the original Metro system. I am not going to write a book on the subject, but I hope someone else takes up the challenge.

Schrag wrote The Great Society Subway about Metro. In it, he argued that building the Orange Line to Tysons in the first place might have made more sense.

PREVIOUSLY

Schrag on Dulles-Tysons Metro situation
2006 INTERVIEW: Q & A: The Great Society Subway

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posted by WFY @ 5:51 AM | |

The Silver Line's long road ahead

Dulles Rail Still Has Miles to Go, Hurdles to Clear - The Post
A lot still needs to happen for the Silver Line to get built and there are a few ways and a number of people who will try to stop it.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 6:12 AM | |

Lazarus Metro line roundup

EDITORIAL - Dulles Rail's Revival - The Post

Its resurrection is a triumph of common sense over dogma and suggests that, contrary to the general impression of the state of governance in Washington, rational outcomes remain possible when grown-ups put their heads together. More specifically, it is a testament to the wisdom and perseverance of officials at Metro, which would operate the 23-mile extension; the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which would manage its construction; Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), who spearheaded the lobbying with Transportation Secretary Mary Peters to reverse what had seemed like the feds' unequivocal rejection; and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D).

Let us hope this cooperation continues on what may be a bumpy ride on the way to making this Metro line happen.

Metro Extension Plan Revived, But Officials Include Conditions - The Post
Dulles rail project gets federal reprieve - The Wash. Times
Rail decision thrusts Tysons development back to forefront - The Wash. Examiner
The details on how this came together and some information about what still needs to happen for it to keep going. The biggest sticking point will be addressing the current Metro system woes and find the funding to fix them. It is not over yet, not by a long shot and may in fact just be getting started.

After Months of Lobbying, Business Leaders Can Celebrate - The Post
The revival of the Silver Line is a cause for celebration in business circles.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 12:47 PM | |

More details on Dulles Corridor Metro

Dulles Rail Gets Federal Approval - The Post
As expected (since this morning at least), USDOT announced today that it is now supporting the proposal to build the Silver Line along the Dulles Corridor.

In a letter to Kaine and in a 10 a.m. conference call with the governor and Virginia congressional leaders, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the $5 billion project had finally met the Federal Transit Administration's standards for cost efficiency, construction and expected ridership. The project will now move into the final design phase, a major step toward receiving $900 million in federal funding.

"As a result of the collaboration between federal and state officials, the project sponsor and other project stakeholders, the financial stability and oversight of the project has improved," Peters wrote to Kaine in a letter obtained by The Washington Post. "Cost reductions have been verified and mechanisms have been established to enhance inter-organizational cooperation, technical capacity and project management."

Good news, but this isn't fait accompli just yet:

Still, Peters went on, "much work remains" to make the project right. Today's approval comes with conditions that must be met if the project is to receive federal funding. Without that money, state and local officials have said that the project would die, ending the possibility of a long-sought rail connection between the nation's capital and its major international airport. Supporters say the line would ease congestion through Virginia's biggest jobs corridor and keep the economy humming with the transformation of suburban Tysons Corner into a thriving downtown.

Among the conditions, Peters said in her letter, is a sweeping demand that Virginia and the Metro system guarantee the capital investment necessary to maintain and operate Metro. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority recently identified $489 million in "urgent unfunded capital needs," Peters said.

Virginia better not drop the ball on this one.

There is a chat about the decision going on right now on washingtonpost.com.

EARLIER: Silver line back on track?!

UPDATE 6:30 a.m. Thursday: I will be posting more about this topic after 12 p.m. today, so check back later.

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posted by WFY @ 12:41 PM | |

Silver line back on track?!

Dulles Rail Set to Get Federal Approval - The Post
Apparently, Virginia and the U.S. Department of Transportation has found a way to make the Dulles Corridor Metro project, tentatively called the Silver Line, meet the "Federal Transit Administration's standards for cost efficiency, construction and expected ridership." It appears U.S. DOT secretary Mary Peters overruled FTA. Good job, Peters that was the correct decision.

This is excellent news, I am glad that we can finally get started on a project that is long overdue.

Now, we get to see the tunnel vs. elevated argument start up again. I would love to see it underground, but I don't see that happening at this point.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

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posted by WFY @ 5:16 AM | |

Busy sports night in D.C., plan accordingly

There are three sporting events (Nats, Wizards, United home games) going on in the District tonight, so there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Nats Express parking will be in Lot 7 at RFK, not Lot 8 because D.C. United has a home match.
  
• A few stops along the Green Line may be crowded, especially Gallery Place/Chinatown
  
• Single-game parking can be bought online at the Nationals Way to Go page. There are apparently plenty of spots available. I think selling parking online is an excellent way at handling traffic management too.
  
• There is no need to get all worked up about this or the Nationals attendance right now. I know that goes against our instincts as cynical, overreacting Washingtonians, but this whole thing is all going to work itself out. Just allow a little extra time and enjoy.

All told, there will probably at least 55,000 fans at three different venues tonight. Go Nats! Go Wiz! Go United!

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Labels: DC United/MLS, Metro, Nats/MLB 2008, Transportation, Wizards/NBA

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posted by WFY @ 6:01 AM | |

As the Silver Line slowly dies, TysonsTunnel throws in the towel

Tysons Tunnel Supporters Withdraw Lawsuit - WTOP
I have not seen much news about the Silver Line (Ashburn to West Falls Church via Dulles & Tysons) for some time now. Today, the news broke that TysonsTunnel.org has decided to drop its lawsuit against U.S. Department of Transportation because of the expected denial of $900 million of funding.

Gov. Tim Kaine needs to get this project back on track and resubmit it to USDOT next year when a different administration is involved.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:52 PM | |

This just in: Take Metro to ballpark

District to Limit Visitor Parking Near Ballpark - The Post
Stadium's plan discourages driving - The Wash. Times
MARC FISHER - Seriously. Take Metro. - The Post
If you are not a season ticket holder with a parking pass don't expect to drive to the ballpark area, take Metro (rail or bus) instead. If you really want to drive, you can park at RFK Stadium and take a shuttle bus to Nationals Park.

JDLand.com's Near Southeast DC Redevelopment site has a section about Stadium Transportation and Parking that is worth a look.

Team Still Feels The Love From An Old Friend - The Post
Chico struggles during first outing - The Wash. Times
LHP Matt Chico emerged from last night's outing vs. Florida (a 3-3 tie) without giving up a run, but threw only 16 of 32 pitches for strikes.

RHP Garrett Mock, acquired with Chico in the LIVAN! trade, pitched two innings, giving up an unearned run. He is not expected to make the majors this spring.

Chico was the latest player featured in an washingtonpost.com video:




For Johnson, An Exhibition Of Pure Joy - The Post
Johnson avoids another collision - AP/Florida Today
1B Nick Johnson played his first competitive baseball game since Sept. 23, 2006 last night. Johnson told 3B Ryan Zimmerman that he "Slept in my uniform last night." He also fielded a fly ball much like the one that resulted in his collision with RF Austin Kearns. By the way, Jim Bowden is already hinting a trade of either Johnson or Dmitri Young.

Nats Lose First Battle Over New Stadium - WTOP
The District defeated the Nationals in arbitration over "ancillary items at the new stadium, such as golf carts, fork lifts, and medical and office equipment." That will save the city $4.2 million. I don't understand why the team was trying to get that from the city.

Do you wonder what it is like to be a sports photographer?


washingtonpost.com's Nationals RSS feed made its monthly/quarterly appearance in Google Reader at 1:18 a.m. this morning. I had 41 total headlines dating back February 10.

Labels: Metro, Nats/MLB 2008, Transportation, Video

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posted by WFY @ 5:51 AM | |

Two Silver Line stories

Dulles Rail faces new bids - The Wash. Examiner
Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield and Del. Joe May, R-Leesburg inserted language into a budget bill that would force the first leg of the Silver Line to be rebid. Given the shady way the project was put together, that sounds reasonable.

This was from Saturday:

2 Top Republicans Try to Jump-Start Dulles Rail Plan, Raising Some Hopes - The Post
An encouraging sign:

Minority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) sent Transportation Secretary Mary Peters a letter this week, saying: "It is vitally important that this project move forward. Open dialogue between Virginia and the Department of Transportation will make certain that lawmakers are best able to alleviate the burden of increasing traffic congestion and transportation demands across the entire national capital region."

It is good to see someone from outside of Virginia getting involved too.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:39 PM | |

Chat transcript: Pearlstein on Silver Line

Somehow I missed a chat hosted by Post business columnist Steven Pearlstein about the Dulles Corridor Metro project. It is quite an interesting and presents several points of view, though Pearlstein favors building it through a Metro line above other modes and wants it to go through Tysons. Pearlstein also outlines how he wants the project saved in his Wednesday column.

You may recall he wrote a column in 2006 praising Tysons' Messy Vitality that I thought was silly and so did Robert K. Lewis.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport, Steven Pearlstein

Labels: BeltwayLand, Chats, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:50 AM | |

Navy Yard Metro update

Crews Pick Up Pace to Renovate Metro Station - The Post
An update on the Navy Yard Metro station expansion.

The station renovation is a $20 million project, paid for with federal funds, with an excavation of 65 feet and installation of elevators, ticket kiosks and eight more turnstiles, bringing the total to 13.

After falling behind in August, the pace has put it back on schedule:

Work on the station started 13 months ago and initially moved slowly. City construction permits were delayed, and in August the project was two months behind schedule, said Mamoud Hosseini, president of Clark Civil, a division of Clark Construction. Clark Civil is renovating the station while another division works on the building overhead and another builds the ballpark.

Now, Hosseini said, the station renovation is back on schedule, with all of the inside work to be finished by the end of this month. Work is also proceeding at street level, where the kiosk, ticket machines and turnstiles are to be installed.

BREAKOUT: Game Day Strategy

Labels: Metro, Nats/MLB 2008, The District, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 5:19 AM | |

Is the Purple Line in trouble too?

Dulles Rail Problems With FTA Worry Md. - The Post
With the FTA showing reluctance to fund Virginia's Silver Line, Maryland officials are concerned that mass transit projects like the Purple Line won't be funded either.

As for the Silver Line, proposed to connect West Falls Church to Ashburn, it isn't dead yet, according to Dr. Gridlock's Get There blog.

Also, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority took issue with the FTA's suggestion (WTOP) that it couldn't handle building the Silver Line.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport, Purple Line

Labels: BeltwayLand, Maryland, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:58 AM | |

Kaine wants specifics from FTA

U.S. Input Sought to Save Rail To Dulles - The Post
Gov. Tim Kaine, in an open letter (PDF), has asked the Federal Transit Administration to identify specifics on how to get the $900 million funding. He should have asked for this days ago.

WMATA head John Catoe disagrees with FTA's assessment that Metro can't handle another line.

House of Delegates speaker William Howell wants to start the project over from scratch. He is a proponent of bus rapid transit.

Kaine presses for Dulles rail project - The Wash. Times

Kaine: Changes could save Dulles Rail - The Wash. Examiner

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 8:43 AM | |

Friday's Silver Line stories

Would it surprise you to learn a source close to Governor Tim Kaine has told WTOP that the governor knew the were storm clouds over the Dulles corridor rail project last summer? Perhaps the governor has been playing politics since the FTA voiced no confidence in the project recently. Shocking.

The Wash. Examiner says there is pessimism that the current project can be salvaged enough to get $900 million in federal funding.

WMATA reaffirmed that it still supports the project too.

The state needs to get its act together and push hard with the next administration for some federal funding. It seems pretty clear this isn't going to happen until then.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:25 PM | |

Not too much Silver Line news

Governor at center of two transit disputes - The Wash. Times
Speaker of the House William J. Howell claims to have been ignored when he warned the the Dulles Corridor Metro project was flawed. He was opposed to involving the Metropolitan Washington Aiports Authority in the project and in favor of private financing that may have included "selling the rights" to collect tolls on the Dulles Toll Road. Howell wants "the General Assembly should push for the oversight authority to investigate how the state got in this position" which sounds like a good idea, provided its mandate is to figure out how to get the project back on track, not to merely place blame.

Anti-Transit Bias May Be Hurting Dulles Rail - AP/WTOP
This is a pretty good summary of where the Tysons-Dulles Corridor situation is right now and how it got here.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 6:00 AM | |

More Silver Line news

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce has set up a petition Web site -- www.dullesmetrorailnow.org

The Wash. Examiner editorializes against the project.

Jim Moran probably didn't help matters (WTOP) by acting like, well Jim Moran.

Times Community Newspapers coverage:

Rumors and uncertainty fill the void left by teetering Metro project

Northern Virginia's future hinges on rail talks

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner

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posted by WFY @ 12:03 PM | |

Wednesday's Silver Line update

Kaine Raises The Specter Of Higher Dulles Tolls - The Post
If the Federal Transit Administration denies $900 million for the Dulles-Tysons Metro expansion, increased tolls on the Dulles Toll Road could be one way of making up the shortfall. Governor Tim Kaine says he doesn't want to support that though.

Kaine thought Dulles was deal on track - The Wash. Times
Yet another article about how Gov. Kaine feels blindsided by the FTA. We know, stop taking about it and figure out how to get this done.

Metro official accuses project heads of failure to fix flaws, letters show - Th Wash. Examiner
A WMATA official expressed concerns about the Silver Line twice since November.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:50 AM | |

I don't believe Greenway tolls are part of the Silver Line funding mechanism. That road is a public/private partnership that is different from the Dulles Toll Rd. There have already been toll increases on the Toll Rd. to pay for the Silver Line.

# posted by  WFY : Wednesday, January 30, 2008 9:14:00 AM  

Hope or tease for Silver Line? USDOT grants "cooling off period"

Va. Gains Time to Save U.S. Funding for Dulles Rail - The Post
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has announced a cooling off period for the FTA and Virginia regarding Tysons-Dulles Metro extension. One source close to the governor suggested that "There is a glimmer here. It may be a temporary cessation of hostilities. It may be a pathway to getting this thing approved." The lead contractor has also agreed to add an extra 30 days to the escalation clause that was to kick in on Friday, Feb. 1.

FTA Agrees To Extend Deadline On Dulles Decision - WTOP

Kaine given more time on rail rebuttal - The Wash. Examiner

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Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:45 AM | |

Monday updates on Tysons-Dulles Metro

The fallout from the FTA's show of no confidence in the existing Dulles corridor Metro plan continues to generate coverage.

Private Interest In Rail To Dulles - The Post
The Carlyle Infrastructure Fund is mentioned as a potential private investor. Private financing of public transportation has the FTA's endorsement.

Dulles Rail proponents fending off blame - The Wash. Examiner

EDITORIAL - Tysons turnabout - The Wash. Times

Politicians Scramble to Save Dulles Rail Project - WTOP

The Post's Get There blog wonders what Plan B winds up being and notes

"the Federal Transit Administration said it doubted whether the Washington airports authority could manage the project. Let's take that concern as valid for a moment.

If the airports authority, which is managing the multi-billion dollar expansion of Dulles Airport, can't manage construction of a Metrorail line, who could?

How about Metro?

No. After Metro built out the five rail lines as planned, it got out of the rail construction business. It no longer has a department that could immediately turn its attention to the task of building a new rail line across the District or the suburbs."

Today's Roads & Rails chat was focused on this issue as well.

Here is the MWAA project Web site: dullesmetro.com

Even though I rarely refer to this as the "Silver Line" (I don't know if that is an official name or merely an anticipated one) I have gone ahead and created a category for Dulles Corridor rail called "Silver Line."

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, DullesAirport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:50 PM | |

A solution for Tysons-Dulles Rail

Given the events of last week, I think that Virginia officials, WMATA and MWAA need to visit this guy:


You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.

Falling that, they need to get better organized, be more specific about who is doing what and wait for the next administration. Hopefully that one won't be looking to excuse itself from the traditional government role of building infrastructure.

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Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:51 AM | |

Latest on Dulles corridor Metro

Contradictions Surface in Dulles Rail Talks - The Post
Virginia: You blindsided us!
FTA: No we didn't!

They need to get past that and figure out how to make this happen. It might have to wait until the next administration is in office.

Metro, WMATA, Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, DullesAirport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Fairfax County, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Tysons Corner, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 10:02 AM | |