Virginia counties obtain TIFIA loans for Silver Line extension

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx last week announced the closing of a $403 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for Fairfax County and a $195 million TIFIA loan for Loudoun County to fund construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.

When combined with the $1.28 billion TIFIA loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that closed in August, $1.87 billion has been issued through the loan program to support construction of the project's second phase, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.

The total amount of the loans represents the largest TIFIA assistance for a single project in the program's history, government officials said.

Construction is underway on the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station, where Phase One work ended, and includes construction of 11.4 miles of track from Wiehle Avenue to Route 772 in eastern Loudoun County. Six new stations will be built along the line — Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Route 606 and Route 772 — as well as a new Service and Inspection Yard at Dulles International.

The Silver Line is being constructed by MWAA and will be operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The new line is expected to serve approximately 85,700 riders daily by 2030.