Letter: Concerns about Phase II of the Silver Line, Dave Edwards, September 14, 2010

Lynn Hampton, Acting
President and CEO
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority


Ms Hamilton;

I am very pleased with the aggressive posture the Dulles Corridor Rail Project has been taking. I am pleased that there is a concerted effort to attempt to maintain seamlessness between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project.

I must express some concern about certain elements of the project which still may be possible to affect:

1. Because the Dulles Access/Toll Road has created a high degree of schizophrenia within Reston by limiting the number of points of interchange between north and south. For this reason we are especially sensitive that nothing built into the Dulles Rail Project preclude future bridges or tunnels that may be possible to cross the Dulles Corridor and lessen the congestion associated with the funneling effect of a limited number of current crossings.

2. Likewise we are extremely supportive of any potential effort to allow for future building in air rights in the Dulles Corridor connecting north and south Reston. There are indications that MWAA may also see some future potential in utilizing it proprietary interest in this. Please do all that can be done to assure that no action today precludes what may be possible in the future.

3. Likewise, while today’s costs are of critical importance, please do all that can be done to assure that future additional access points to the various stations are not precluded. Beyond 2013 and 2016 we want the Dulles Rail system to be flexible enough that significant improvements can be added as the ridership demand and the availability of additional funding permit.

4. Of particular importance, please do not let short-term expediency, and the severe shortage of funds cause a less than effective Dulles Rail interface with the air terminal at Dulles result from a bad compromise in design. We greatly appreciate the care being taken by the Dulles Rail team to effectively manage the very scarce funding available. However, this critical element of the project must function effectively for at least the next fifty years. Let’s make no short-term expedient decisions today that reduce the long-term effectiveness of Dulles Rail for airline passengers and employees at Dulles. By whatever means, including more Toll Road tolls, let’s find the money to achieve the optimum Dulles Rail interface with the Dulles terminal.


David A. Edwards