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Dulles Transit Partners L.L.C. — a joint venture between engineering firms Bechtel Infrastructure Inc. and Washington Group International — recently completed preliminary engineering for Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project.

Under the first phase, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) subway system will be extended 11 miles from East Falls Church to Reston, Va. The entire project would extend Metrorail service 23 miles to Washington Dulles International Airport.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will spend the next 30 days reviewing the engineering report and updated cost estimate of $2 billion, which reflects increased project materials and property costs, and recommended project reductions, such as eliminating several pedestrian and station access facilities. DRPT then will calculate an independent cost estimate and submit it to the Federal Transit Administration, which will determine the project’s eligibility for federal funding.

DRPT expects to begin final design in fall and begin construction in 2007.

Other Dulles Corridor Metrorail project partners include WMATA, the Federal Aviation Administration, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Fairfax County, town of Herndon, Loudoun County and Virginia Department of Transportation.