Officials with the D.C. Metro Board revealed Thursday that phase one of the planned Silver Line rail extension will cost Metro approximately $4.5 million more than initially projected. The surge in costs is due to the need to add several more stops on the line than previously expected.
Two Metro officials speaking anonymously said that the Silver Line—which will travel between East Falls Church, Va., to Reston, Va. in phase one—will have to be extended by five stops in order for the trains to have enough room to turn around.
To facilitate this change, Metro will need to add 20 to 30 rail cars; these cars will largely be taken from the agency’s existing stock, but extensive maintenance will be needed to get the cars in shape. Metro will also have to hire additional personnel to man the extra rail cars.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is overseeing construction of the Silver Line, while the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will be responsible for operation.
The entire Silver Line project is projected to cost $5.6 billion. Phase one is scheduled for completion in August 2013, with service beginning six months after that.
