Airports Authority Announces Delay in Expected Completion of Silver Line Phase 1, July 17, 2013

July 17, 2013  

Airports Authority Announces Delay
in Expected Completion of Silver Line Phase 1

Approximately Eight Weeks Needed for Additional Testing, Adjustments 

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, in conjunction with Dulles Transit Partners, the entity building the Silver Line, announced Wednesday that the expected substantial completion of Phase 1 of the Metrorail Silver Line project would be delayed by approximately eight weeks. The additional time is needed to accommodate further testing to assure the safety and performance of the systems and equipment before it is transferred to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

 

In a presentation to the Airports Authority Board of Directors at its monthly board meeting, officials of Dulles Transit Partners explained that the eight-week estimate is based on what is currently known and might be adjusted.  Project managers said additional tests will help them formulate a more specific assessment, which will be announced at the Authority’s September Board meeting. 

 “Our main goal has always been safety and quality – it supersedes all else,” said Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter. “Any project this large and complex is inevitably going to encounter unexpected issues that require additional tests and adjustments. With Phase 1 of the Silver Line nearly complete, there isn’t sufficient time in the schedule to recover from recently identified matters within the original plan.”

 

The project plan called for substantial completion of Phase 1 in early September, at which time the line would be turned over to WMATA.  The initiation of revenue service, when the rail line begins carrying passengers, is set by WMATA and had been anticipated in late December following 90 days of personnel training, system tests and operation simulation.  The announced delay in substantial completion is expected to have an impact on the start of revenue service.  The Airports Authority and Dulles Transit Partners will work in conjunction with WMATA to limit the impact and to provide updates to the timeline as more information is available.

 

“In the meantime, we are in close coordination with Dulles Transit Partners and WMATA to make the final testing process as fast and efficient as possible – and to help get the Silver Line ready to begin serving passengers,” Potter said.  “We will assure that all systems and components are working safely and performing as expected.” . . .

 Nothing in the press release about how much this delay will add to the cost of the project and, therefore, to DTR tolls.