RA Wants Silver Line to Extend Into Loudoun

president Kathleen Driscoll McKee said on Friday the organization supports the completion of Metro's Silver Line to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote April 10 whether to support Phase 2, which will run from Reston Wiehle's Avenue (the end of Phase 1) to Loudoun County. The Wiehle Station is scheduled to open in late 2013.

However, with several issues such as

Reston Association has advocated for the completion of Phase 2 over the last two years. In separate letters to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the RA Board said that this most important public works project would bring success to the entire region only if it were completed all the way into Loudoun County.

Driscoll McKee says continuing the Silver Line past Dulles will be an economic driver for years to come for all of Northern Virginia.  Others in support of Phase 2 include the Dulles Corridor Rail Association and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.

Driscoll McKee said Reston took shape alongside the construction of Dulles Airport.

“Since those early years, the Dulles Airport and the Reston community have grown exponentially, prospered and earned international acclaim,” she said.  “Looking forward to the next 50 years, the prospects are equally as great that with the addition of the Silver Line to the Dulles Corridor and beyond, rail will be one of the major factors in the continued success, in all its forms, for the Reston community, Dulles Airport and Loudoun County."

Here is RA's complete statement:

April 6, 2012

Statement by Kathleen Driscoll McKee, President, Board of Directors
Regarding Support for Completion of Rail to Dulles


The Reston Association today restates its ongoing support for the completion of Phase 2 of Rail to Dulles and into Loudon County.  In the last two years, Reston Association has advocated for the completion of Phase II of the Silver Line. In separate letters (19 July 2011 and 29 October 2010) to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the Association’s Board of Directors said that this most important public works project would bring success to the entire region only if it were completed all the way into Loudon County.

Continuing the Silver Line past Dulles International Airport into Loudon County will be an economic driver for years to come for all of Northern Virginia.  We, at the Reston Association, strongly believe, as has been stated by others, that the economic benefits of rail are well documented and real.

Reston will be celebrating its 50th year as a community in 2014.  Looking back, the early years of the Reston community took shape along side the construction of another major “landscape changing” public works project: Dulles International Airport (Dulles Airport).  Since those early years, the Dulles Airport and the Reston community have grown exponentially, prospered and earned international acclaim.  Looking forward to the next 50 years, the prospects are equally as great that with the addition of the Silver Line to the Dulles Corridor and beyond, rail will be one of the major factors in the continued success, in all its forms, for the Reston community, Dulles Airport and Loudoun County.

Reston Association, on behalf of its more than 60,000 members, would like to acknowledge and applaud all of the partners who are working to bring rail to the Dulles Corridor and into Loudoun County.  We assure all of the partners that our anticipation of and excitement for the completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 does not overshadow our appreciation for the existing and long-term financial commitments of each partner.  The compromises that have been and will be made are essential for the completion of the Silver Line, and we commend each partner for the due diligence that each has demonstrated during Phase 1 and we know will continue into Phase 2.