Dulles Corridor Rail Association

DCRA Annual Meeting, November 30, 2006 at Capital One. On November 30, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association (DCRA) held its Eighth Annual Meeting at the headquarters of Capital One in McLean. Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer, accepted DCRA's Annual Leadership Award on behalf of Governor Tim Kaine. Given the risk of loss of federal support, Governor Kaine made the responsible decision in September to move forward with the approved, locally preferred alternative, the elevated alignment for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Extension in Tysons Corner. DCRA also recognized the Dulles Area Transportation Association, a Transportation Management Association, as an effective advocate for transportation solutions, including Dulles Corridor Metrorail. More than 170 members and friends attended enjoyed the reception in the Atrium of Capital One's new conference facility. Event summary and photo gallery.

Governor Decides to Move Forward with Elevated Rail Alignment. After meeting with Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson and members of the Northern Virginia Congressional delegation, Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced on September 6, 2006, that the Commonwealth would move forward on the existing aerial alignment for the Tysons Corner portion of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. Federal officials had made clear their concerns that the tunnel might delay the project and risk federal funding. (Read the full report.)

Rail to the Runways Celebration. On June 27, the Washington Airports Task Force sponsored a luncheon with the theme “Rails to Runways” to honor Governor Timothy Kaine and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO James Bennett. The event was held at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott and was cosponsored by the Committee for Dulles, Dulles Area Transportation Association, and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 350 eagerly listened to the remarks of the Governor and Jim Bennett in support of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. (Detailed summary)

ASCE Panel Says Tunnel is Feasible for Tysons Corner. The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) Dulles Metrorail Tunnel Review Panel (TRP) released the findings of their two month evaluation of engineering options for the Tysons Corner segment of the proposed Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport. As a result of this technical review, the TRP stated that it would be feasible to construct the Metrorail system through the Tysons Corner area using a large bore tunnel, and that there was a relatively small difference in cost and schedule between the two options (large bore tunnel and largely aerial plan). ASCE Press Release.

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Current Status. On May 15, 2006, Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer announced that he was enlisting a panel of engineers to advise him on whether the rail extension should run above or below ground through Tysons Corner. The American Society of Civil Engineers put together a panel chaired By Bob O'Neil. The panel is to report back to the Secretary on July 27. Its report will be made available to the public shortly thereafter. The state will make its decision based on consultation with Fairfax County and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

DCRA Letter to MWAA and Virginia Secretary of Transportation. On June 22, DCRA Chairman Ken Plum sent a letter to MWAA President and CEO James E. Bennett and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer urging them to maintain the momentum of the project during the ASCE panel review of the single-bore tunnel option in Tysons Corner. Read Chairman Plum's letter.

Dulles Corridor Rail Association Spring Reception. DCRA held its 2006 Spring Reception at AOL on Tuesday, June 6. Ken Plum presented DCRA’s Leadership Award to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Chairman Mame Reiley and Doug Koelemay, Corey Hill, Jim Bennett, Ken Plum, Mame Reiley, Robert Clarke Brown, Scott York, Gerry Connolly, Patty Nicoson

Doug Koelemay, Corey Hill, Jim Bennett, Ken Plum, Mame Reiley, Robert Clarke Brown, Scott York, Gerry Connolly, Patty Nicoson

President Jim Bennett. He also recognized Dulles Corridor Advisory Committee representatives Chairmen Gerry Connolly (Fairfax County Board of Supervisors) and Scott York (Loudoun County Board of Supervisors), as well as Acting Director of Rail and Public Transportation Corey Hill and Northern Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board member Doug Koelemay. What was remarkable was the strong support of the Advisory Board members for MWAA’s taking over management of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. The honorees also expressed appreciation for the strong business support of the project and stressed its importance in keeping the project moving forward. Sam Carnaggio, project director for the Dulles Metrorail Project gave an update on its status. More than 120 DCRA members and project supporters attended the reception. Sponsors for the event included: Reception Host: AOL; Partner Sponsors: GANNETT and JBG; Gold Sponsors: Commonwealth Consulting, Dulles Transit Partners, Dulles Marriott, Elm Street Development, James G. Davis Construction Corp., The Macerich Company/Tysons Corner Center, Reed Smith, Reston Hospital, and Washington Airports Task Force; and Silver Sponsors: Autostrade, Boston Properties, Committee for Dulles, Dulles Gateway Associates, Dweck Properties, Lewis Scully Gionet, Qorvis Communications, and Venable. View more event photos.

TOD Seminar, No. 4 - Monday, May 22, 2006. On Monday, May 22 from 8 to 10:30 AM, DCRA and DATA hosted the fourth in a series of seminars on Transit Oriented Development. Speakers were Tony Calabrese, Cooley Godward - Tysons Corner Center Update; Curt Hoffman, Fairfax Co EDA - Fairfax County Real Estate Trends; and Hon. Catherine Hudgins - Status of Affordable housing Efforts.

DCRA Comments on Tunnel Option for Tysons Corner. At its May 1 meeting, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Board of Directors passed a resolution acknowledging that the Commonwealth of Virginia has begun a review of a proposed tunnel option for Tysons Corner. It stated that the review should go forward provided it does not delay the project and that the design project costs not risk loss of federal funding support for the project. Read full text of the resolution.

Governor Kaine Forms Dulles Corridor Advisor Committee (DCAC). This joint initiative of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties will provide MWAA with advice on issues related to the management, improvement and expansion of the Dulles Corridor as well as changes to tolls on the Dulles Toll Road. View the Governor's Press Realease.

MWAA and Virginia Sign Memorandum of Understanding On March 27, 2006 the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allow the Authority to operate the Dulles Toll Road and to complete the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project by constructing rail to Dulles Airport and beyond to Loudoun County. At its January 6 meeting, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Board of Directors had passed a resolution urging "the Commonwealth of Virginia to evaluate the [MWAA] proposal in a timely manner and seek to incorporate any cost- and time-saving elements which the proposal may include into the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project." In a letter to Governor Kaine on March 30, DCRA Chairman, Del. Ken Plum applauded the decision to move forward with the MOU. He noted that the Authority's proposal, "ensures that toll revenues raised in the corridor are used for projects in the corridor" and that "with the Airport Authority's track record for managing large and complex construction projects, it is likely that the length of time needed to construct this much-needed project will be reduced, significantly reducing its costs." View Chairman Plum's letter and DCRA Press Release. For more information on the Airports Authority's proposal and to view the Memorandum of Understanding, visit www.mwaa.com and click on the "Dulles Corridor Proposal" link.

PE Completed on Phase 1. The Commonwealth's private-sector contractor, Dulles Transit Partners, LLC, has completed preliminary engineering for Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, including an updated cost estimate of 2.0 billion. View project press release.

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Seminar, Session 3: "Making TOD Work"On March 30, at Accenture DCRA and DATA sponsored the third seminar in the TOD series. Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerry Connolly welcomed the more that 100 attendees noting that Fairfax County's "future has to include TOD." Speakers included Fred Selden, Director, Planning Division, Fairfax Co. Dept. of Planning and Zoning; Beau Schwiekert Comstock Asset Management and Doug Carter, Davis Carter Scott; John McLain, Senior Fellow Center for Regional Analysis, GMU; and Justin Schor, Urban Trans.

2007 New Starts Program. The Federal Transit Administration submitted its Annual Report on News Starts for FY2007 to Congress on February 7. The report includes projects that are Recommended for Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), projects listed under Pending FFGA, and other projects to be Considered for Funding. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is listed under "Other Projects to be Considered for Funding." The budget includes $102 million for these additional projects "contingent upon further progress and continued qualification under New Starts criteria and other requirements." Click here to view the FTA press release. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project team indicates that "The report is a snapshot of where the Project stood in its development process at the end of 2005. It is a status report -- not a determination as to whether or not the project will ultimately be funded. The report lists the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project among those that will be eligible for full federal funding 'in the near future.'" The project is expected to apply for final federal funding approval in the Spring. Read the the Project team's report "Understanding the FTA Annual Report on New Starts" here.

Environmental Impact Report. A public hearing on the potential impacts of design refinements to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will be held on March 28 at 7:00 PM at Kilmer Middle School, 8100 Wolf Trap Road, Vienna. Click here to view the Environmental Assessment which is on the project's website.

2006 Virginia General Assembly. The Dulles Corridor Rail Association (DCRA) cosponsored a reception with the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) on February 2, 2006, at

the Old City Hall in Richmond. The theme was Transportation Choices. More than 100 people, including 50 legislators, attended the event including DCRA Chairman Ken Plum and Vice Chairman Delegate Vince Callahan.

In addition to legislators, Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer and his Deputy Directors Scott Kasprowicz and Ralph Davis attended the event. Jim Bennett, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Jim Stevens; Carol Welti, Washington Airports Task Force, and Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth joined key committee staff aides.

DCRA meeting sponsors were represented: Cliff Mumm, Roger Picard, Ernie Lee, and Joe Alexander, Dulles Transit Partners; John Milliken, Venable; and Jim Larsen, Dulles Area Transportation Association. Event sponsor Reston Limousine provided transportation from Northern Virginia for DCRA members.

Networking was outstanding; the food delicious; and the event a success. DCRA plans to work with VTA on a reception for the Kaine Administration and General Assembly again next year.

DCRA participates in Chamber Day. On January 24, DCRA joined the Herndon Dulles, Fairfax, and Loudoun Chambers of Commerce and the Committee for Dulles for Chamber Day in Richmond to lobby for increased transportation funding. We met with Delegates Tom Rust and Chuck Caputo, as well as, Scott Kasprowicz, Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Transportation. We joined other Chamber members from throughout the state to hear from Governor Tim Kaine and Attorney General Bob McDonnell. Patty Nicoson, DCRA President, attended the Old Dominion Assembly reception and the Fairfax Chamber dinner for legislators.

DCRA Board Supports Consideration of MWAA Proposal to Operate the Dulles Toll Road and Complete the Dulles Metrorail Project to Loudoun County. At its January 6 meeting, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Board of Directors passed a resolution urging "the Commonwealth of Virginia to evaluate the [Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority] proposal in a timely manner and seek to incorporate any cost- and time-saving elements which the proposal may include into the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project to expedite this much needed transportation improvement." View the DCRA Resolution.

MWAA Proposes to Take Over Dulles Toll Road. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which controls Washington Dulles International Airport and the right away of the state-operated Dulles Toll Road, has submitted a proposal to take over operations of the Toll Road and build the entire Dulles corridor Metrorail extension from West Falls Church to Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County. The proposal, which was made public on December 21 attempts to eliminate uncertainty about the timing and funding for the second phase of the Dulles rail extension from Wiehle Avenue to Route 772 in Loudoun County. Airport. Officials have been concerned about the second phase of the project, which will bring rail to Dulles Airport. The first phase is underway with preliminary engineering expected to be completed by February 2006; a Full Funding Grant Agreement reached with the Federal Transit Administration by the fall of 2006; and construction begun by the end of 2006.The authority proposes to use toll revenues to fund the state's portion of the first half of the rail line, as well as the state and federal share of the second phase. MWAA President and CEO Jim Bennett has said that the authority's proposal would ensure revenues earned on the toll road would be invested in transportation improvements in the Dulles corridor. View Proposal.