Kaine to Tour Silver Line Tuesday in McLean

McLEAN, VA -- You might see a familiar face during your morning commute Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia will ride the Metro's Silver Line and tour construction of Phase II of the line, his office announced Monday. When Kaine was governor of Virginia, he secured $900 million in funding for Phase I of the Silver Line.

Kaine is scheduled to receive a briefing on construction at 9 a.m. at the Tysons Corner Metro Station at 1943 Chain Bridge Road, from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

The Silver Line Phase II is currently under construction and will extend metro service out to Dulles Washington International Airport and other points out west of the area including Ashburn. The final 11-mile section includes six new stations: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles Washington International Airport, Route 606 and Route 772. Construction began in 2014 and is supposed to be completed by 2019.

Kaine's visit comes on the heels of a dust-up at a congressional hearing where Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) and others took Metro board member Corbett A. Price to task for suggesting that work should be canceled on the extension of the Silver Line in Virginia to save money.

PHOTO of metro/Patch archive