FTA Official Confident Virginia Will Come Up With More Metro Money

One day after Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said the commonwealth would not be "putting a dime of new money" the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed their own reservations about Fairfax and Loudoun taking on more financial responsibility.

However, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff had a more optimistic take on McDonnell’s message.

Rogoff told the board of supervisors Tuesday that he said he had spoken with Virginia’s Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton  and that “we believe when all is said and done, you’ll see a commitment for $150 million from the commonwealth.”

“What you’re seeing here is reticence of the different parties to all jump in the cold pool immediately at the same time,” Rogoff said.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the FTA and county representatives have been in talks directed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood since June 1 on how to reduce costs for the Silver Line's Phase II, which will run from Reston to Dulles International Airport and beyond.

Read the story in the The Washington Post's Virginia Politics blog.