Potentially Costly Changes to Silver Line's $5.6 Billion Second Phase

Construction of the Silver Line’s second phase could be more costly and take longer than expected, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officials announced Monday.

Portions of the Silver Line’s second phase, which stretches from Wiehle Avenue in Reston to Route 772 in Loudoun County, must be redesigned to comply with new state and federal regulations regarding stormwater management, The Washington Post reports.

It is unclear whether the changes will affect the project’s existing $5.6 billion price tag or if the new design would postpone the second phase’s projected 2018 opening. According to The Washington Post, the MWAA has already used a $551.5 million contingency fund to pay for a $700,000 charge required by the state for stormwater treatment.

The first phase of the Silver Line project opened in July just before Charles Stark, a longtime transportation veteran from L.A., took over as the new Silver Line chief during the project’s second phase.

Image: Patch File Photo