As Reston residents continue to wait for an opening date for Metro’s Silver Line, a new paper by John McClain with George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis outlines the many missteps area’s transportation planning has taken over the last 50 years.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is overseeing the Silver Line construction, said Monday there are no updates on the completion of Silver Line’s Phase 1, which will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue.

Dulles Transit Partners, the contractors that building Phase 1, told the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Feb. 7 that it had reached “substantial completion” on Phase 1 of the Silver Line. But after a 15-day review period ending Feb. 24, MWAA said it and found issues in 7 of 12 areas, ranging from leaks to problems with the automatic train control system.

DTP is correcting the issues, but MWAA spokesman Marcia McAllister said there is no progress report as of yet.

Meanwhile, McClain says  in Reflections on the National Capital Region: Transportation For the Past Half Century that “… in looking back over the past half-century at the region’s transportation process development and evolution, there are serious doubts about the region’s ability to address and resolve its needs in the most effective way. It seems it will more or less muddle along – developing reasonably good plans but no really good way to get them done.”

Several issues have affected Metro, as well as area highways, says McClain:

* One of the key failures regarding the region’s transportation system has been the lack of dedicated regional funding for regional facilities, he says. While federal funds were key to building Metro and regional highways, it may be time to diversify the sources.

The federal government gave $900 million to Phase 1 of the Silver Line, but nothing to Phase 2, though local funding and expected TIFIA funding should help cover some of the $2.7 billion Phase 2 costs.

“The region’s economy has diversified enormously over the past five decades, and Federal employment now only represents about 12 percent of total employment, McClain writes. “Attempts have been made to find some source of regional funding for Metro and those attempts have so far failed. But in looking ahead to rehabilitation needs of Metro (as well as regional highways), and future extensions, efforts should continue to seek a regional funding source. It is likely that federal funding levels and options will continue to decline, and the National Capital region will need to become more self-sufficient.”

* Planning and building of the region’s highway system has had mixed success. Plans written in the 1960s called for three three circumferential highways and other freeways within the region were obviously not completed as called for, but a case could be made that if the planned circumferential highways had been built and connected with the radial corridors containing both freeways and transit, then the region’s development patterns and transportation systems would have made for a region better positioned in the 2000s for economic growth and better quality of life (read, less gridlock).

“A case could also be made that much of the reality that did happen — 12 circumferential facilities taken off the plans — was because the region did not need so many roads,” writes McClain. “However, taking those facilities off the plans meant that rights-of-way could not be protected for potential future needs. While some
circumferential roads like the Fairfax County Parkway and the InterCounty Connecter did get built, their transportation usefulness to the region could have been much greater.”

 Read the entire report here 

The contractor responsible for building the Silver Line Metro extension could face large fines if the work is not completed by April.

Dulles Transit Partners told the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Feb. 7 that it had reached “substantial completion” on Phase 1 of the Silver Line, which will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue.

However, MWAA completed a 15-day review last week and found issues in 7 of 12 areas, ranging from leaks to problems with the automatic train control system. DTP is correcting the issues. It is not known how long that will take, but it is likely to delay the project’s turnover to Metro, which will in turn delay the rail’s opening date for the third time in the last few months.

The Washington Post reports that DTP’s contract states the contractor must finish the work within seven months of the agreed upon completion date of Sept. 9, 2013 — or face fines in the millions.

If the work is not finished within that time, starting roughly April 10, DTP would face a $25,000-a-day penalty until the work is done, the Post reports. If the project is not completed 92 days after that April date, the contractor would have to pay roughly $2.3 million in fines, plus an additional $75,000 a day.

Ultimately, if the project is delayed more than six months from that April date, DTP could be required to pay more than $9 million total. Under the terms of the contract, the payments are capped at $60 million.

Also in the contract, a financial incentive: Had DTP completed the project earlier than scheduled, it could have earned up to $10 million in rewards.

When MWAA certifies that the issues are repaired, the project will be turned over to Metro, which has 90 days to complete its own testing.

The latest delay is one of several, though Metro and MWAA officials have never given a firm opening date for the Silver Line. It is now expected that the Silver Line will not open until summer 2014.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said on Monday that the Silver Line is not ready to turn over to Metro for final testing.

After a two-week review period in which MWAA checked the work of its contractor, Dulles Transit Authority Partners, MWAA said 7 of 12 areas were deemed deficient.

From MWAA:

Examples of problem areas include:

• Failure to deliver certificates of occupancy for almost 20 wayside buildings, including stations, power substations and the tunnel;
• Performance issues with the Automatic Train Control System that prevent WMATA from beginning Operational Readiness Testing;
•  Failure to fully correct defects that impact operations, including track gage problems;
• Elevator and escalator problems, and water leaks in buildings;
• Incomplete documentation for testing requirements and safety/security verifications.

This could mean more delays as DTP goes back and makes the corrections. DTP had announced in early February it had reached “substantial” completion of the Silver Line.

An exact opening date for the Metrorail extension was never announced, leaving leeway for problems such as this. It is not known how long it will take DTP to make the corrections.

Phase 1 of the Silver Line, which will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue, was originally estimated for turnover in August for a December 2013 opening. Last spring, that was moved to a November turnover. In January, the project was delayed further while problems with the Automatic Train Control System were addressed.

After the turnover to Metro, the rail line has an additional 90 days to do more testing.

The Airports Authority says it has instructed DTP to provide a plan and date of conclusion for addressing the outstanding items as quickly as possible.

“We will work closely with DTP, WMATA and our other partners to monitor progress and assure that all contractual obligations are satisfied,” a MWAA spokesman said.

During the 90-day period, the Tri-State Oversight Committee and the Federal Transit Administration will conduct reviews, says MWAA.

Phase 2 of Metro’s Silver Line took a significant step toward the future when it received the go-ahead to apply for nearly $2 billion in federal loans late last week.

The Northern Virginia congressional delegation said the the U.S. Department of Transportation TIFIA Credit Council has given preliminary approval to move forward on a $1.9 billion federal loan, which represents about one-third of the total cost of the Dulles Metrorail Project.

The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program at USDOT provides federal credit assistance to finance major surface transportation projects of national and regional significance.

MWAA officials say the low-interest federal loan, which will be combined with $300 million in funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia, mean that tolls on the Dulles Tolls road are likely to remain stable through at least 2018.

There has been much concern in recent years that Dulles Toll Road users would have to bear the burden of the cost of Phase 2 of the rail line, which was slated to be built with no federal funds.

The $2.3 billion Phase 1 — which will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue — received $900 million in federal money.Phase 1 has reached “substantial completion,” and an announcement on the timeline leading to the opening of the Silver Line could come as early as today.

Phase 2 did not receive the federal funds, and political posturing at the state and local level put the project in jeopardy for a bit. In 2012, the all-Republican Loudoun County Board of Supervisors threatened to remove their support, but eventually reaffrmed it in a 5-4 vote. In 2011, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was called in to help stakeholders at all levels come to a compromise.

Phase 2 of the rail will run from Wiehle Avenue to other Reston stops at Reston Parkway and Herndon Monroe, as well as stops at Dulles International Airport and into Ashburn. It is not expected to be completed until at least 2018. Read More

Reston residents could have a clearer picture next week of when they can begin riding Metro’s Silver Line.

Pat Nowakowski, executive director of the Dulles Metrorail Project, tells WTOP that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will announce on Monday its findings from the 15-day review period in which MWAA would  determine whether the rail is ready for the next phase — and a possible opening date.

The contractor that built the Silver Line Phase 1, which will run from Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue, said Feb. 7 that it had reached “substantial completion” and was ready to turn the rail over to Metro for further testing and readying for opening.

Once the project is turned over to Metro, it should open within 90 days, though several officials said they do not think Metro will need that big of a window for testing.

The project, which reportedly loses $2 million each month the rail is not open, has already had significant delays. MWAA officials originally estimated at December 2013 opening based on an August handoff. Last summer, that was extended to early in 2014. In November, it was discovered that tracking software needed to be re-tested.  

Wiehle-Reston East will be the terminus for the rail line for at least five years. Phase 2 of the Silver Line, expected to be completed about 2018, will run from Wiehle to Reston Parkway and Herndon Monroe, then to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.

In other transportation news, the Northern Virginia Congressional delegation announced on Friday that it has been given the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIFIA Credit Council’s preliminary approval to move forward on a nearly $1.9 billion federal loan, representing about one-third of the total cost of the Silver Line Phase 2.

With that funding, the burden would likely be taken off Dulles Toll Road users to help pay for the project.

This is very positive sign and will go a long way toward helping keep tolls down on the Dulles Toll Road,” Rep. Frank Wolf said.  “It shows the federal government’s continued support for and commitment to this project.

Metro’s Silver Line moved a step closer to its first passengers Friday when the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, responsible for building the rail extension, said its contractor has reached “substantial completion” and is ready to turn the project over to Metro.

There is still no official opening date for the rail extension, which will run from Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue.

“Dulles Transit Partners (DTP), the contractor building Phase 1 of the Silver Line, took an important step today in construction of the project,” MWAA said in a statement. “DTP has made the determination that they have reached substantial completion. The declaration of substantial completion by DTP means they believe they have satisfied the terms of their contract and are ready to turn the project over to MWAA and WMATA for final testing and preparation for operations of the line.”

MWAA and Metro will now be in a 15-day review period, then MWAA can hand off the project. Metro has up to 90 days to complete final testing, but Metro has previously said it probably would not need the full 90 days.

The review will include: delivery of all spare parts and maintenance manuals; evidence supporting successful completion of all tests, all regulatory approvals; as-built final drawings, safety certifications documents; Certificates of Occupancy and remaining punch list items with completion schedule, MWAA said.

So barring big problems, the first riders of the Silver Line to Reston should finally be aboard this spring. The Silver Line’s terminus will be at Wiehle-Reston East for the next five years.

Phase 2 of the project will have stops at Reston Parkway, Herndon Monroe, Route 28, Dulles International Airport and Ashburn. That is expected to open in 2018.

The project, which reportedly loses $2 million each month the rail is not open, has already had significant delays. MWAA officials originally estimated at December 2013 opening based on an August handoff. Last summer, that was extended to early in 2014. In November, it was discovered that tracking software needed to be re-tested. That software was retested two weeks ago.

Patty Nicoson, President of the Dullles Corridor Rail Association, called the news “kind of thrilling we are getting one step closer to the goal post.”

“It is my understanding they shouldn’t need the full 90 days,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if it were open for baseball season?”

When Metro’s Silver Line opens later this year, it will also bring several changes to the Washington Flyer airport bus service.

The buses that run to Washington Dulles International Airport will get a new name — Washington Flyer Dulles International Airport Silver Line Express.

Instead of running to and from the West Falls Church Metro station, the dropoff and departure points will now be Reston-Wiehle East. That station, at the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road, will be the terminus of the Silver Line for at least five years.

More importantly, the bus from the airport to the Metro will be shorter and much cheaper. The fare will decrease from the current $10 one-way or $18 round trip to $5 each way, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Rob Yingling told The Washington Post.

The airport bus stop will remain unchanged.

When Phase 2 of the $5.6 billion Silver Line is completed, the rail will extend all the way to Dulles and into Loudoun County.

There still is no firm opening date for Phase 1 of the Silver Line, which will run from Tysons Corner to Reston. MWAA Officials are currently in the testing phase of the rail line, but have said they expect to turn the project over to Metro this month. The line should open within 90 days after that.

Other changes coming to the airport transport:

• New buses with an interior layout similar to airport shuttles, with seats and large luggage racks.
• A new schedule. Buses currently run every 30 minutes. When the new line opens, they will run every 20 minutes and as often as every 15 minutes during some weekday peak hours, MWAA says.
• Riders will be able to pay with cash or credit cards. The buses will not take SmarTrip cards.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials said on Wednesday that a software problem has been resolved and that they will begin testing it on the Silver Line by the end of the month.

MWAA officials have previously said that once the rail is turned over for testing, it will take about 90 days — barring any glitches uncovered — before the Silver Line sees its first passengers.

Phase 1 of the $5.6 billion Silver Line will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, on which construction should begin soon, will open in about five years. Phase 2 will run from Wiehle to an additional Reston stop at Reston Parkway, then to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.

MWAA said in late November that it had found an issue with the automatic train control system software. That issue caused a delay  in the timetable — the rail line’s second announced one in six months. Some local officials such as Sen. Mark Warner questioned the setbacks and pointed out the fiscal impact of delays on the Commonwealth and on Metro.

MWAA CEO Jack Potter told The Washington Post on Wednesday that officials will conduct a “simulated service” exercise in which Silver Line trains will run at the same time weekend Metro service is being run. The test will likely be run the weekend of Jan. 25.

MWAA had never set an official opening date, but the original testing period was to have begun in August (for a potential December opening). In June, that was amended to November. In November, of course, the software issue was discovered. If there are no issues found in testing, the Silver Line opening now would be in April.

Pat Nowakowski, project executive director for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project , has repeatedly said safety is the top priority.

“Our guiding principle throughout this process has been ‘safety first’ and we remain committed to that principal,” he aid in November. “We will not do anything that might compromise safety or create unsafe conditions for the traveling public.”

The opening of Metro’s Silver Line will transform the Tysons Corner and Reston areas into transit-oriented edge cities in the decades to come, says a report from real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.

The report, “The Silver Line: Envisioning a New Tysons Corner”  explores the Silver Line’s impact on the demographics, development and the overall real estate market. While it mainly concentrates on Tysons Corner, the Reston is expected to see a similar transformation.

“It’s an exciting time to be in Tysons – while the transformation of a suburban, automobile-centric office market into a more urban, walkable ‘urban’ center will take some time, it will happen,” said Paula Munger, C&W’s research managing director in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. “The trend towards 24/7 live-work-play environments is playing out in office markets globally, and the Silver Line will stimulate it in our region.”

Phase I of the $3.2 billion Silver Line will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue. While originally estimated to open this month, there have been several testing delays and the project will open sometime in early 2014. Metro officials have not given a firm date. Phase 2 will run from Wiehle-Reston East to Dulles International Airport and into Ashburn. Phase 2 stations are not yet under construction will not open until at least 2018.

Cushman & Wakefield says the opening of Northern Virginia’s first new Metro stations in more than 15 years will make Tysons  — and in essence Reston — a more attractive place for Washington’s workforce, who can now more easily commute (or reverse-commute) from Washington, D.C., or Arlington.

The report uses the Rosslyn-Ballston area of Arlington as a hint of what might be to come.

Prior to the Metro’s arrival in Arlington in 1977,  the R-B Corridor had 26 office buildings with more than 25,000 square feet; a total of just over 4.1 million square feet of space. Today, the Corridor boasts 101 properties totaling 20.2 million square feet.

The R-B Corridor also experienced a significant boom in residential housing units after the introduction of the Metro. Prior to the Metro’s opening, the entire RB Corridor contained 23 multi-family projects with over 100 units. Combined, these developments totaled about 6,000 units. Today, there are 74 such projects totaling just under 200,000 units.

That’s what groups like Reston Citizens Association’s Reston 2020 are envisioning too. But where commercial real estate firms see a gold rush, Reston 2020 sees frustrated residents and traffic jams. The group estimates the Wiehle station alone will bring 13,000 additional jobs and 5,500 new residential households by 2030-2040, causing clogged streets unless some big changes are made.

Reston 2020 recently gave the proposed changes to the Reston Master Plan — which will be voted on by the Fairfax County Planning Commission in January — an overall letter grade of D when it comes to planning for the changes in population and workers.

Meanwhile, Cushman & Wakefield says that despite an overall slowdown in investment sales for Northern Virginia, the Silver Line expansion has drawn high notice from investors.  Since 2010, $1.2 billion in investor office transactions have been in the vicinity of Phase I stations.

The report also says that investors recognize he future population increase’s effect on high-end multifamily apartments.

“The proposed apartments should be able to command top dollar as a result of their proximity to the stations, retail centers, luxury amenities and the overall higher income of the area,” the report says. “This may spur investors to upgrade recently purchased properties to match the offerings of future new construction.”

One of those new buildings, The Avant at Reston Town Center, which will be in walking distance to the Phase 2 Reston Parkway Silver Line station, recently opened with high-end amenities and high-end prices. Rents for a one bedroom start at more than $2,000 a month.

Want to reserve your place at Reston Station? You can now make reservations for dedicated parking spots.

As reported earlier on Reston Now, the seven-story garage adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station will have reserved parking for both bicycles and cars.

Wiehle-Reston East will be the end of the Silver Line Phase I when it opens in 2014.  The parking garage, a public-private partnership between Comstock and Fairfax County, will have space for about 3,000 cars.

The garage will also feature Fairfax County’s first enclosed, secure bicycle parking facility with a capacity for over 200 bicycles. There will also be  unsecured (free) parking as well as a space reserved for a future bikesharing station.

In July, the Board of Supervisors approved various rates for garage, inclduing a $75 annual bike room membership. This includes a one-time fee of $15.00 (non-refundable) for the access key fob. But the early bird rate of $45 (or $75 for two years) is now available if you sign up by March 1.

Get more details and follow the registration link on the Fairfax County website.

The county, in partnership with LAZ Parking, is also now taking reservations for reserved auto parking for $65 a month. Visit this LAZ form to register.

Find out about additional premium parking options in this Reston Now article.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has joined the chorus of dissatisfaction over additional delays for Metro’s Silver Line opening.

Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is building Phase I the rail extension that will run from Tysons Corner to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue, said this week it needs additional time to test and modify the software for the Automatic Train Control System.

That is a the second delay announced in several months, pushing the rail opening perhaps several months into 2014.

“MWAA’s announcement earlier this week of a three-month delay due to testing of the automatic control system follows an unsettling pattern of delays,” Warner wrote in a letter Wednesday to MWAA CEO Jack Potter. “This recent announcement follows the delay announced in June that pushed project completion from 2013 into 2014. I agree with your assessment that safety should be the utmost priority in guiding your efforts, but I believe that can responsibly be achieved while also adhering to an agreed-upon project schedule.”

Warner says the delays are not only an inconvenience for eager commuters, it is costing the commonwealth money.

“With every additional month of delay, the traveling public suffers and millions of dollars in fare-box revenue are lost. I urge you to do everything in your power to complete the work as quickly and responsibly as possible and avoid further delays,” he wrote.

See full Warner letter.

Throughout the process, thee Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project has not set a firm date. Officials have said all along that testing — and glitches found during testing — could make the opening date a moving target,

“This is why we test,” Pat Nowakowski, project executive director for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project in press release. “Our guiding principle throughout this process has been ‘safety first’ and we remain committed to that principal. We will not do anything that might compromise safety or create unsafe conditions for the traveling public.”

Officials have said the Silver Line would likely open three months after being turned over to Metro. The original turnover date was slated for August. Then after the June delay it was expected to be November. That date has now come and gone, with more delays now expected.

Are you pretty sure you will be parking daily at  the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop when it opens in a few months?

Then get on board now with Comstock’s private spaces at Reston Station.

Comstock, which is constructing Reston Station and the seven-story parking garage (in partnership with Fairfax County)  has extra spots available at the garage, which will feature 2,300 public parking spots. The private spots will eventually become dedicated parking when future office buildings are constructed, Comstcok spokeswoman Maggie Parker said.

Here are your parking options:

Platinum Reserved: Reserved and numbered space available 24 hours a day, Monday-Fridaay for $195 per month.

Gold Reserved: Guaranteed reserved parking space between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday-Friday; Promotional offer, $95 per month.  The $65 per month Gold reserved fee is being waived for March and April 2014.

Prepaid Debit Card: Discounted daily parking with swipe in and out of garage — $4.50 per day.  A rechargeable debit card is purchased and preloaded with a minimum of $35.00 of value.  Debit cards are re-loadable at on-site kiosks or online.

Regular garage rates, as set by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, will be $4.75 a day  or $65 a month.

The Silver Line, which will run from Tysons Corner to Wiehle Avenue, is expected to open in early 2014. No official opening date has been set.

Interested in signing up? Call 703-230-1985.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission did not vote on the future of Reston development on Wednesday, but heard from many residents and other interested parties who are concerned about what that future will look like.

After four years of work, the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force’s comprehensive plan amendment — a massive document outlining everything from density around three Metro Silver Line station’s to street patterns to recreational facilities — has been presented to the planning commission, which will now further review it before making a recommendation to move it on to the county Board of Supervisors or tell the task force to make changes. Task Force Chair Patty Nicoson says the group will also create its own staff report.

The planning commission says it will vote on the plan on Dec. 5.

One of the main points of the plan: where to put the people. The plan calls for ratios of 50 percent commercial/residential within one-quarter mile of the Metro stations at Wiehle-Reston East, Reston Parkway and Herndon-Monroe. In the half-mile range, the ratio should be 75 percent residential, 25 commercial.

“We focused on total amounts of residential/commercial that can be within a district,” Nicoson told the planning commission. “We want to see new recreation center, a performing arts center. We are committed to the environment. We want to see the principles of Reston maintained as we look to the future. This will help us build on Reston as a planned community that was built with nature in mind.

“Some are concerned we have not focused on implementation,” she added. “First have to concentrate on the vision, then implementation. Read More