MWAA Offers a Look Into Projects, Progress

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials decamped to Reston on Tuesday evening for an open house where citizens could ask questions such as "how much parking is going to be at the Wiehle Metro stop?" and "tolls are going up how much?"

There wasn't much new news offered by MWAA at the event at but it was good one-stop shopping for transportation information.

Dulles rail project executive director Pat Nowakowski said he was relieved that the . MWAA and Loudoun County, along with state and federal officials, had already approved the deal.

"It is one more signal it is time to move forward," he said.

Nowakowski added that Phase 1 of the project, from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue, is on schedule  for construction completion in summer 2013. Nowakowski recently said that keeping Phase 1 on budget would be a major task, and that an overrun could be more than $100 million.

"That will give Metro six months to get tested and ready to open around the end of 2013," he said.

Preliminary engineering is expected to be completed in early 2012, Nowakowski said.

One Reston resident checking out the Metro map said he is happy about the rail coming to the area. But he peppered Nowakowski and MWAA CEO and president Jack Potter with questions about how Reston can absorb the commuters who will park in the 2,300-space garage at Reston Station.

"Here is the problem - that parking lot is going to be filled at 6:30 a.m.," said 40-year resident Jack Boese. "My question is 'is there going to be a Kiss-and-Ride on both sides?' "

MWAA also provided a reminder that tolls will go up at the main Dulles Toll Road plaza on Jan. 1, 2012. The 25-cent increase means it will now cost $1.50 per trip for two-axle vehicles. The ramp toll of 75 cents will not change.

Projections of potential future toll rates will be developed as part of a traffic and revenue study to be completed in early 2012.

To see exhibit charts and materials, click here.