Loan plan could bring lower toll road rates. Fairfax Times, May 6, 2011

Airports authority will apply for $1.7 billion in low-interest federal help

by Kali Schumitz | Staff Writer

Although much of the recent debate about the costs of extending Metrorail service to Dulles Airport has focused on the airport station, a federal government decision will have an even bigger impact on future rates on the Dulles Toll Road.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority plans to apply for about $1.7 billion in federal loans under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. This would allow the airports authority to borrow funds at a much lower rate and with more flexible terms than on the private bond market, potentially lowering overall costs by 20 to 30 percent.

Whether the U.S. Department of Transportation ultimately approves the TIFIA loans for the project will have a significant long-term impact on the cost to use the Dulles Toll Road. . . .

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