Phase 2 of Metro to Dulles Cost Estimate: $3.83 Billion

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says Phase 2 of the Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport will cost  about $3.83 billion.

Officials said Wednesday the current plan, which includes plans for a tunnel and underground station at Dulles, could cut costs by $640 million by considering a secondary plan for the  the station, between Daily Parking Garage No. 1 and Saarinen Circle.

The costs, about $1 billion over original estimates, may be passed on to drivers in additional tolls.

"We have made a considerable effort to do as exhaustive a study as possible to determine what the plan for Phase 2 of this important project will require in terms of engineering, construction and funding," said Lynn Hampton, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

"As we move forward we will continue to review these alternative airport station alignments and project cost estimates carefully in preparation for going to final design on Phase 2. "

The MWAA is in the process of finalizing preliminary engineering work on the plan for Phase 2 of the Metrorail line through the Dulles Corridor from Wiehle Avenue to Route 772 in Loudoun County. The organization held two public meetings this week, including one in Reston.

Phase 1 of the project, which goes from East Falls Church to Tysons Corner to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, is under construction. It will be completed in 2013 and is expected to cost $2.7 billion.