The silver line received a pivotal yes vote (5-4) today from Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors. The project includes two stations and four miles of rail within Loudoun (as well as the Airport Station). The cost of the project is 270 million for Loudoun County and includes annual operational expenses which will be funded via a special tax district (7-2 passed vote). The pivotal yes vote came from Supervisors Reid and Volpe who were on the fence about whether this is the right direction for Loudoun. With the approval MWAA can move forward with preliminary engineering plans to determine final construction plans, a step that would have been complicated by removal of stations and the relocation of the terminus rail yard and parking conditions).
We think this area just got better connected with the approval of this plan, and most importantly is finally moving forward on this project 40 years in the making. We look forward to the day that commuters from Ashburn can get to Tysons and Reston instead of using the Toll Road or Route 7, as well as residents of Fairfax being able to enjoy employment in the growing aerospace and telecomm industries of Loudoun.
Do you think the last of the hurdles for Phase 2 is now crossed? And what are your thoughts on this watershed day for the project?