MWAA Presentation re US DOT Phase 2 Funding Proposal, July 11, 2011

As reflected in the presentation below, MWAA continues to reject any responsibility for the excess costs of Dulles Metrorail line.  The presentation focuses on the small role of the state and federal government in financing the rail line, and states that nothing in the DOT initiative will lower future toll rates.  It virtually begs DOT for federal TIFIA (low-interest) financing to cover the huge cost escalation in Phase 2 of the construction effort while claiming much larger savings from building an aboveground station at Dulles than has ever been previously reported ($552 million; most reports put the savings at about $330 million).

The brief lays out future toll rates under different financing arrangements, but the TIFIA-based rates are based on a higher construction cost for no apparent reason.  All of the projected toll rate costs in 2043 (the farthest outyear projected) range between $15.41-$17.92--although the construction cost differs among the alternative scenarios.

The most important fact this brief omits is that the projected cost of the ENTIRE Dulles Metrorail line in 2004 was $2.7 billion.  We are spending that on Phase 1 alone, bringing Metrorail to Wiehle Avenue.  And this brief discusses additional costs of $2.7-$3.1 billion for Phase 2--a doubling or more of the original cost projection.  Explain that, MWAA.

MWAA Discussion Presentation With USDOT--July 11-2011