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Project Updates

Annual Report on New Starts

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) delivered its Annual Report on New Starts to Congress.

Dulles Metrorail Fact Sheet: Understanding the Annual Report on New Starts

FTA's 2007 Annual Report on New Starts

New Starts Program Update

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) submitted its annual New Starts program update to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The update included a revised capital cost estimate of $1.8 billion for the first phase of Dulles Metrorail.

Preliminary Engineering Estimate for Phase 1 Released

FAA Environmental Approval for Dulles Metrorail Project

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final environmental approval or Record of Decision (ROD) for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project - an important milestone on the project's path to starting construction next year.

The approval states that the entire 23-mile project is in compliance with all existing environmental and aeronautical regulations. In its review of the project's final environmental impact statement, the FAA found the proposal "consistent with existing plans of public agencies for the development of the area surrounding the airport."

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued their final environmental approval for the project in March 2005.

Current Activities

Currently, the Dulles Metrorail project team is conducting Preliminary Engineering Activities for the project with the emphasis on the first phase - the extension to Wiehle Avenue.

Preliminary Engineering

DRPT's request to begin Preliminary Engineering on Phase 1 was approved by FTA in June 2004. Preliminary Engineering is a significant milestone and begins the process of designing and building rail in the corridor.

This initial engineering work began in October 2004 and is expected to be complete in December 2005. DRPT will work closely with its local partners to secure project funding and finalize the agreements between the partners needed to advance the project into construction.

Preliminary Engineering and related project development activities will be conducted by Dulles Transit Partners, LLC under the terms of a Public-Private Partnership Act (PPTA) Comprehensive Agreement approved by DRPT.

Download the Comprehensive Agreement to Develop the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project.