Virginia officials plan to announce next week whether they will pursue the construction of Metrorail above or below Tysons Corner, a milestone decision in the future of the Fairfax County community and the $4 billion rail extension.
After a lengthy period of complex wrangling on costs and feasibility, the debate on whether to dig a massive tunnel under Tysons or build the four-mile stretch on an elevated track could be nearing an end. The project is part of a larger venture to send rail to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County.
However, state transportation officials said the announcement will not represent an absolute commitment to either plan, only an intention to move in that direction.
“There are still environmental and regulatory hurdles to go through with both options,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer.
Officials have leaned heavily toward constructing the tunnel, which they say would optimize development in Tysons Corner and be less disruptive. A state-ordered study by the American Society of Civil Engineers found that a $2.5 billion tunnel would be feasible despite costing $250 million more than elevated tracks and taking a year longer to build.
The state plans to pursue an option in its agreement with Dulles Transit Partners, a group of firms that includes Big Dig engineer Bechtel Infrastructure Inc., to complete the first 11.6-mile phase.
“We are as anxious as anyone to see this project move ahead. … ,” said Deputy Virginia Transportation Secretary Scott Kasprowicz.
A plan to pursue the Bechtel agreement worries Fairfax County Supervisor Dana Kauffman, who represents the Lee District. A motorist was killed in July by a falling section of Boston’s Big Dig tunnel, for which the firm jointly designed and oversaw construction. Kauffman said he is wary of allowing the Dulles rail project to “follow the same path because of suspect engineering.”
