TIMELINE: Metro's Silver Line trials and tribulations, from inception to today
Photo of Silver line Metro train (ABC7)
From its inception to today, here's a look at the trials and tribulations of Metro's Silver Line.
JANUARY 1999 - PROPOSAL
The Tysons-Dulles Corridor Group (led by Bechtel Corporation and West*Group) submit a proposal for a rail project from West Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue.*
JULY 1999 - A NEW METRO LINE
Dulles Corridor Task Force recommends that WMATA operate the rail extension as part of the D.C. area's Metro rail system.*
JANUARY 2002 - LOCAL FUNDING AGREEMENT
Representatives from MWAA (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority), Fairfax County and Loudoun County inform the Dulles Corridor Steering Committee that they have reached an agreement on the allocation of the 25% of capital costs for the new line to be funded locally. The allocation is to be broken out as: 16.1% - Fairfax County, 4.8% - Loudoun County and 4.1% - MWAA. Federal funding is assumed at 50% and state funding at 25%.
JUNE 2005 - OVER BUDGET
The project gets the first preliminary engineering cost estimate for Phase 1. The estimate is a range between $1.7 billion and $3.4 billion - over budget. Project partners begin the search for cost-savings.*
JULY 2007 - FEDERAL FUNDING WOES
A report is issued by the U.S. Transportation Department Inspector General that estimates the cost of the proposed Metro extension to Dulles International Airport has grown so significantly over the past three years that it may not meet guidelines for federal funding.*
JANUARY 2008 - BIGGER FEDERAL FUNDING WOES
"The federal government will not fund the Metro extension to Dulles International Airport without drastic changes... effectively scuttling a $5 billion project planned for more than 40 years and widely considered crucial to the region's economic future," The Washington Post reports.
DECEMBER 2008 - A BREAKTHROUGH WITH THE FEDS
In a reversal of its decision earlier in the year, the Federal Transit Administration approves the extension of the new rail line. "The reversal caps 11 months of frantic activity by the region's top politicians, who have steadfastly pressured [Transportation Secretary Mary] Peters and even the White House to keep alive a project that state, federal and airport officials have planned for more than 40 years."
**MARCH 2009 - PHASE 1 CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
Construction of Phase 1 begins along Route 123 near International Drive, where a future tunnel will carry the rail line from Route 123 to Route 7.* It is scheduled for completion in 2013.
APRIL 2009 - PHASE 2 OPEN DATE ANNOUNCED
Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project officials say that Phase 2 of the project will open in 2016.*
JUNE 2013 - PHASE 1 DELAY ANNOUNCED
Officials announce that the Silver Line Phase 1's expected launch date is pushed back, from December 2013 to January 2014.
JULY 2013 - ANOTHER PHASE 1 DELAY
Officials say the Silver Line is facing another delay, of about eight weeks, which would push its opening back to spring 2014.
FEBRUARY 2014 - MORE PHASE 1 DELAYS
Airports Authority says several problems, including performance issues with the automatic train control system, could delay the opening yet again.
**JULY 2014 - FIRST SILVER LINE PHASE OPENS
The first phase of the Silver Line opens, five new stations (McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East) extending to the northwest from the Orange Line's East Falls Church station.
APRIL 2015 - PHASE 2 DELAY
Officials announce Phase 2 of the Silver Line will not be ready until late 2019, after originally being expected to open in 2016.
AUGUST 2019 - HOPE FOR A 2020 OPENING?
A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) document sent to ABC7 indicates MWAA expects construction on the second phase of the Silver Line to be done by April 17, 2020, and service to begin for riders by July 16, 2020.
FEBRUARY 2020 - PHASE 2 DELAYED AGAIN
ABC7 learns the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line will not open until the spring of 2021 at the earliest.
APRIL 2020 - SILVER LINE BECOMES PART OF SUMMER SHUTDOWN
Metro announces it will close three times as many stations as expected for summer construction work, including the entire Silver Line in Virginia.
*According to DullesMetro.com.
