Metro Board members approved a plan yesterday that would allow a private partnership to build a rail line to Washington Dulles International Airport and Tysons Corner, though one board member said the project might cost the District.
Metro officials agreed that the agency will be the technical manager of the $4 billion Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project and make final decisions on the design.
Virginia officials have been negotiating privately with Dulles Transit Partners for nearly a year to build the line. The partnership consists of engineering and construction firms Bechtel Corp., the Washington Group International and other subcontractors.
Board member David A. Catania, an at-large Republican on the D.C. Council, said he is concerned about the plan because the lower taxes in Northern Virginia and other incentives could entice businesses and government agencies out of the District.
“Most businesses care about dollars,” he said. “If costs are cut in half and if [jobs] are closer to their workers, then I’m concerned. It will start to look very attractive, very fast.”
The project would extend Metro’s Orange Line about 23 miles in two phases. The first phase would extend the line from west Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston. The second phase will go from Reston to Dulles.
The completion date is tentatively scheduled for 2015, and this would be the first time the agency did not build its own project.
Mr. Catania said he fully supports expanding the transportation system, but “wants to know the [economic] consequences so that we can prepare and take corrective action.”
At yesterday’s regular board meeting, Mr. Catania also said he was disappointed that Metro officials failed to provide him with the economic impact study he had requested.
“I didn’t ask for [the report] for my health,” he said. “This project is going to move forward without having the benefit of knowing how it will affect my jurisdiction.
“If we get a report saying that [the effect] is minimal, fine. But my gut tells me we need to be concerned.”
Gladys W. Mack, the board’s vice chairwoman, and other board members agreed to review the report.
In other Metro news, board members yesterday approved spending $22 million on engineering upgrades to rail yards and the power system to prepare to run eight-car trains.
General Manager Richard A. White said the agency deferred some maintenance projects and made other adjustments to come up with the money. Metro needs nearly $28 million to purchase the 120 cars to make the eight-car trains.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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