Silver Line Problems To Cost Metro Millions Of Dollars: Report

RESTON/HERNDON, VA — Continued problems and delays with the Metro Silver Line phase 2 expansion project — which would extend the line to Reston Town Center, Herndon, Dulles Airport, and Loudoun County — will cause costs to balloon by millions of dollars, according to a report.

The Washington Post reports that Metro leaders learned at their board meeting on Thursday that long-term maintenance for the project would cost millions of dollars and result in periodic track — and possibly station — shutdowns.

This is due to construction flaws, which are being corrected, but four outstanding issues remain, according to the report.

The six stations may open in July at the earliest, but it may take until as late as September.

The Post reported that the board learned that concrete panels built to last 100 years will have to be resealed every 5 to 7 years at a cost of $1.8 million for each instance, not accounting for inflation or the cost of taking tracks and stations offline.

NBC Washington's Adam Tuss reported last month that Silver Line leaders are "raising serious concerns about the main contractor's timeline for fixing the project+opening it by next July."

Train to Dulles International+Loudoun Co delayed again? In a new report, Silver Line leaders are raising serious concerns about the main contractor’s timeline for fixing the project+opening it by next July. (Remember MWAA building the Silver Line and turning over to Metro) #wmata pic.twitter.com/euiSb8rQSD
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) October 29, 2019

Concerns about track quality prompted Metro officials to stop test trains from running on the Silver Line rail extension the month before, according to the Washington Post.

The contractor, Capital Rail Constructors (CRC), told the Post that it had not been told to stop trains, although the officials explained that it was because no test runs were planned.

Also last month, the Washington Business Journal reported that several critical fixes and repairs need to be made in order for the Ashburn station to open next summer, including issues with track cross-levels and gravel around the tracks.

Metro hopes to open the station by July 2020, but Metro board member Michael Goldman called the list of things that need to be fixed a "dark and foreboding cloud" over that planned opening, WBJ reported.

Tuss reported that the sealant to coat concrete panels at the new Silver Line stations failed in recent tests, meaning the sealant was not always effective.

BREAKING - more bad news for Metro’s Silver Line Phase 2 - News4 has learned that the sealant to coat troubled concrete panels FAILED some recent tests - meaning the sealant as applied was not effective in all cases. @nbcwashington #wmata pic.twitter.com/80V2A6tpwW
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) September 6, 2019

Phase 1 ended up going $220 million over budget, but officials thought the second phase of the project would go smoother thanks to lessons learned from Phase 1 and not nearly as many obstacles, like boring a tunnel in the middle of Tysons, the Post wrote in an earlier report.

However, problems continue to crop up with the project, like cracks in concrete, bad rail ties, and a platform that had to be redone. In one case, a subcontractor was criminally charged.

WTOP reported earlier this year that the contractor responsible for building a new rail yard near Dulles Airport has seen their schedule slip 67 days over the past month, meaning substantial completion of the Silver Line Phase 2 won't happen until late July 2020.

The rail yard and mainline tracks both must be complete for Metro to accept the rail project, which means the soonest the Silver Line Phase 2 Metro stations could open for business would be September or October 2020 if nothing changes.