DULLES, Va. (WUSA) -- Could the Metro Rail Silver Line to Dulles Airport be in jeopardy? If Loudoun County backs out of the project it could. County leaders are angry over MWAA (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority) deciding to stick with its plans to build an underground station. MWAA is building the rail line.
Putting the station underground at Dulles, MWAA has said, will cost about $300 million more. The cost of the project is now $3.5 billion. An earlier estimate was $2.5 billion.
"Everybody wants rail to Dulles, but not at any cost," said Scott York, Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Using MWAA estimates that tolls on the toll road could climb to $10 by 2020, York says a Leesburg resident who also takes the Dulles Greenway would have to spend more than $500 in tolls a month.
"That's a car payment. People would not do it. Then where does the bond revenue come from?" said York. Tolls are the largest part of the funding plan for the Silver Line.
9NEWS NOW reporter Peggy Fox asked Charles Snelling, Chair of the MWAA Board, if they would consider revisiting the underground station decision. He refused to answer the questions directly and would only respond in this way: "We will work with our funding partners to bring down costs."
"It's got to be aerial," said York, insisting that an above ground station is the only way to bring down costs significantly.
Members of the MWAA Board have said an underground station would be more convenient for air passengers because it would keep them out of the elements.
But Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova has pointed to the underground walkway that already exists from the North parking garage, directly across from the main terminal where the Metro Station would be built.
Reporter Peggy Fox walked the walkway herself Wednesday and recorded the journey. Walking in heels, it took her about 7 minutes. There are two moving walkways and an escalator. Passengers parking in the garage may also take shuttle buses to the terminal. County leaders also say a cheaper above-ground station could also be enclosed to keep patrons dry.
When asked if Loudoun County pulling out of the project would hurt it, Snelling said, "I don't think that's going to happen, because we're going to work with our partners."
"Hopefully he will listen. So far he has not," said York speaking about Snelling.
"Unfortunately we have a board not accountable to spending other people's money," said York.
The 13-member MWAA Board is appointed. Virginia's Governor appoints five people (Former Rep. Tom Davis is one them), Maryland's Governor appoints two, D.C.'s Mayor appoints three, and the President of the United States appoints three. (I'm told that's because the airports are federal property.) Snelling, who lives in Pennsylvania, is a presidential appointee.