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Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
Project Type: 
Public Transit
Sponsor / Borrower: 
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
Fairfax County, Virginia (Fairfax)
Loudoun County, Virginia (Loudoun)
Credit Agreement Status: 
Active
TIFIA Assistance: 
$1,876 million
Primary Revenue Pledge: 
State or Local Appropriations
Toll Revenues
Project Cost Details: 

Total Project Cost (design and construction): $5.683 billion

Duration / Status: 

Phase 1: Design-builder signed contract in March 2008. Construction began in March 2009 and the project opened in July 2014.

Phase 2: Design-builder was named in April 2013, and construction began in 2014. Substantial completion is expected January 2019.

Fiscal Year Closed: 
FY2014
Project Description: 

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is a new 23-mile extension of the current Metrorail system, branching from the Orange Line's East Falls Church Station in Arlington, Virginia to the Washington Dulles International Airport and west to eastern Loudoun County. The project will add 11 stations, and it includes the construction of a new rail yard on Dulles Airport property and procurement of 128 railcars. Upon completion of the project, operation will be transferred to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the operator of the existing Metrorail system.

The project is being constructed in two phases. Phase 1 runs 12 miles from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston. This phase includes five stations to the Silver Line, including four in Tysons Corner. Phase 2 will continue 11 miles from Wiehle Avenue to eastern Loudoun County. This phase will add six stations, including stops in Reston, Herndon, Dulles Airport, and in Ashburn.

The extension will serve the largest employment centers in Virginia, Tysons Corner and the Reston/Herndon region, as well as provide a one-seat ride from Dulles Airport to downtown Washington, DC.

Funding Sources: 

Phase 1: $2.906 billion (capital costs and Route 7 improvements)

Phase 2: $2.778 billion (preliminary engineering estimate)

Total Project: $5.684 billion (capital costs)

  • TIFIA Loan (MWAA) - $1,278 million
  • TIFIA Loan (Fairfax) - $403.3 million
  • TIFIA Loan (Loudoun) - $195.1 million
  • FTA New Starts Grant & Other Federal Grants - $975 million
  • Commonwealth Funds - $500 million
  • MWAA Dulles Toll Road Funds - $1,511 million
  • MWAA Aviation Funds - $233 million
  • Fairfax County  - $512 million
  • Loudoun County - $78 million

Note: slight differences due to rounding

Project Delivery / Contract Method: 

Design-Build (Phases 1 and 2)

Project Participants: 
Phase 1: Dulles Transit Partners (Joint venture of Bechtel and URS)
Phase 2: Capital Rail Constructors (Joint venture of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South)
Project Advisors / Consultants: 

Additional Advisors

To USDOT TIFIA JPO:

  • TIFIA Legal Advisor: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
  • TIFIA Financial Advisor: Scully Capital
Project Lender(s): 
USDOT TIFIA
TIFIA Credit Assistance Detail: 

Direct Loan (MWAA): $1,278 million

Direct Loans (Fairfax): $403.3 million

Direct Loan (Loudoun): $195.1 million

Total Direct Loans: $1,875.7 million

TIFIA will finance direct loans to leverage the financial commitments made by Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and MWAA to expedite the construction period and save financing costs. The TIFIA loan to MWAA will be repaid in part from Dulles Toll Road revenues after payment of annual operation and maintenance expenses and debt service on higher priority bonds. The TIFIA loan to Fairfax County will be repaid with annual appropriations of funds from the County. The TIFIA loan to Loudoun County will be repaid with revenues generated from assessments from a special tax district as well as annual appropriations of funds from the County.

Financial Status: 
The FTA Full Funding Grant Agreement for Phase 1 was executed in March 2009. The TIFIA credit agreement for MWAA was executed on August 20, 2014, for Loudoun County through its Economic Development Authority on December 9, 2014 and for Fairfax County through its Economic Development Authority on December 17, 2014.
Innovations: 
  • Local partners are leveraging special assessment districts and revenues through a TIFIA loan to accelerate the project construction timeline.
  • The Project will be a catalyst for transit-oriented development in Tysons Corner, one of the largest employment centers in Northern Virginia.
Project Contacts: 

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Office
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
(703) 572-0500

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