The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday agreed to an aboveground Metro Station for Washington Dulles Airport, infusing fresh lease of life to the second phase of Dulles Metro Rail Project.
Dulles Main Terminal - Courtesy: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
The Authority’s original decision to locate the station underground was opposed by all other stakeholders of the project, including the local county and state officials. The opposition was so blunt that Loudoun County even threatened to walk away from the project. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood intervened and urged all the parties to come to a compromise, indicating that he would prefer an aboveground station to reduce the costs.
Even though everyone would prefer the more convenient underground location, the cost for that would be exorbitant. The contentious battle over the location of the station between the Airports Authority and local governments could have jeopardized the entire second phase of the project, leaving Dulles Airport the only major airport in the Washington Baltimore area without a rail connection.
The Authority made the right call by agreeing to the aboveground station. This puts the project back on track.