Politics & Government

USDOT Will Review Subway Project

Investigation will look at Airports Authority's Rail-to-Dulles process

U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovell announced Tuesday that his office will determine if Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority policies and procedures comply with the law and whether the board of directors has been transparent with and accountable for its actions with the controversial Dulles Corridor Metrorail project.

U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf (R-Virginia 10th) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa 4th) asked for the investigation earlier this year. The investigation announcement comes at a time when frustration with MWAA board members is at an all-time high.

On April 6, the MWAA board found itself in more hot water when it voted 9-4 to at . MWAA's decision would add $330 million to a project that totals more than $6 billion.

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The addition makes the second phase of that includes new stations at the airport and into eastern Loudoun County is now estimated to cost $3.5 billion, which is $1 billion over earlier estimates.

Wolf has said that the MWAA board is "dysfunctional," and that he was disturbed by a Washington Post editorial that criticizes MWAA's search process for a new CEO and the attendance record of at least one member. MWAA has been without a CEO since early 2010.

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MWAA manages Dulles International and Reagan National airports and the Metrorail project. MWAA also owns the Dulles Toll Road and will use tolls to pay for a large portion of the project.

Elected leaders in Fairfax and Loudoun counties are upset that the tolls for the road will be too high if MWAA does not cut project costs. The funding partners since June 1, to get the three sides to work together on cost-cutting measures.

LaHood told the group that he wanted a new cost outline for Phase 2 by the end of this month.

The inspector general notes that an audit of MWAA launched earlier this year to ensure the project is on schedule and on budget is almost complete, but "the recent decisions by the MWAA board regarding the project have generated significant attention" and warrant a full investigation. 

Not only have lawmakers asked for an investigation of MWAA's policies and procedures, but Del. Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) Even Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli chimed in recently and asked Loudoun County voters to elect an anti-rail majority this November.

The MWAA investigation starts June 27.


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