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FTA 04-08
Contact: Paul Griffo, Tel.: (202) 366-4043
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Statement of Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson
Regarding Metrorail Extension through Tysons Corner
Earlier today, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has substantially improved its
proposal to extend Metrorail in response to technical, financial and
institutional concerns raised by the Department of Transportation in January.
Consequently, we have sent the required 10-day notification to Congress that we
intend to move the project into the Final Design stage of FTA’s New Starts
Process. FTA will commit $158.7 million to use toward completion of a financial
plan, construction plans, detailed engineering specifications and cost
estimates, and other technical requirements.
However, there are still hurdles facing this project and we will not commit any
federal funds for construction until a number of outstanding issues are
resolved. These issues include MWAA’s ability to: ensure that sufficient funds
are available to cover risks; demonstrate that the project can proceed on
schedule and on budget; and properly oversee the single largest design-build
contract in the history of the New Starts program. In addition, we must be
assured that state-of-good-repair needs for the entire Metro system will be
addressed.
Secretary Peters and I have been personally involved in the discussions leading
up to this decision, and we appreciate the cooperation and commitment of
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, the Virginia Congressional delegation, MWAA and
WMATA to assure FTA and the public that this project can be responsibly managed
and meet statutorily-required thresholds for cost, risk and other factors under
the New Starts process.
It is our hope that the project will continue down this path toward success and
deliver a vital and new rail capacity for the region.