Reston Spring

Reston Spring
Reston Spring

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Fairfax County only now trying to meet key Phase 2 Silver Line commitment

In the summer of 2011, nearly two years ago, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood finally got the Silver Line "funding partners"--MWAA, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and the unheard Dulles Toll Road users--to agree to take upon themselves the construction of ancillary Silver Line facilities.  For Fairfax County, that meant the construction of two parking garages--one each at the Herndon-Monroe and Rt. 28/CIT stations. 

You'd have thought the County would have started to work on that reasonably promptly given the importance it attaches to the completion of the Silver Line.  Well, you'd be wrong!

Just two days ago, the County issued an updated request for statements of qualification for an architect "to provide conceptual planning and professional design services for two, separate multi-level parking structures to be located along the Rail to Dulles, Silver Line- Phase II."  That is the very first of many steps that must be completed before these structures are constructed and operational. 

Indeed, given the record of greatly delayed Fairfax County follow up on the RMAG report for transportation improvements needed prior to the arrival of Metrorail at Wiehle Station (virtually none of which will be accomplished, including the vital Soapstone Connector), it is quite possible that these garages will not be in place when Phase 2 becomes operational in 2018. 

For more on the updated request for qualifications (RFQs), please see this Washington Business Journal article.  

The kicker:  If Fairfax County can't find a suitable private sector partner for these garages, the costs of building them reverts to the Metrorail project costs--and Dulles Toll Road users will end up picking up three-quarters of the cost.

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