Feds Approve Critical Element Of Silver Line Financing; TIFIA Loan To Keep Toll Rates Lower

Loudoun County:

“The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a $1.9 billion low-interest Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project—an action that will lessen rate hikes on the Dulles Toll Road.

It is the largest loan in the TIFIA program's history and will allow the MWAA  to proceed with its construction plans for Phase II of the 23-mile Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport and Ashburn.”

~Writes  Leesburg Today

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Loudoun Supervisors Eye Federal Funds For Park-And-Ride Lots

Loudoun County:

“The Board of Supervisors is interested in using federal funds to pay for the development of four park-and-ride lots in the county. Supervisors last week directed county staff members to submit an application for the 2014 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program.

According to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, the minimum TIGER grant amount is $10 million, which prompted the staff to include four different park-and-ride lots in the application. All grant funds must be used by FY21. Consideration was given to apply for money to purchase buses or construct Prentice Drive between the two planned Metro stops in Loudoun, but both were ultimately rejected. If the county had received federal funds for the buses, the entire system would become ‘federalized,’ requiring compliance with a number of federal regulations and procurement processes, supervisors were told.”

~Writes Erika Jacobson Moore of Leesburg Today

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Construction To Begin On Rt. 7 Widening, Interchange Roundabouts

Loudoun County:

“VDOT and Shirley Contracting will hold a pre-construction meeting for planned upgrades to Rt. 7 west of Leesburg at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. Construction is expected to begin this month on a new westbound ‘climbing lane’ and roundabouts at the Rt. 9 interchange at Clarkes Gap. The new lane is designed to reduce afternoon rush hour congestion, while the interchange improvements should help with morning traffic flow. The project also includes reconfigured medians with barrier-separated left-turn lanes, and an extension of Fort Johnston Road that will connect Alysheba Drive to Leeland Orchard Road.

During the meeting, residents will get an overview of the project and the construction schedule and plans to manage traffic during the construction period, which continues through October, 2015.”

~Writes Leesburg Today

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