The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has approved a key funding agreement which will ensure the extension of the Dulles Rail into Loudoun County.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a multi-party agreement that outlines the fiscal responsibilities of federal, state and local entities in the $2.8 billion second phase of the rail project.
Originally, phase two of the Dulles Rail project was going to be partly funded with toll payments acquired from drivers who use the Dulles Toll Road.
However, last week the Department of Transportation (DoT) announced that there would be additional Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) funds available for the project.
In addition, Loudoun and Fairfax Counties agreed to fund construction projects associated with the extension, such as the building of parking garages.
Both of these moves mean that the tolls can now be reduced for drivers.
Charles Snelling, chairman of the MWAA board, said: "This momentous vote assures a new and better level of regional cooperation will go forward on behalf of this important transportation project, so that we will be able to reduce costs and so that drivers who use the Dulles Toll Road will see less steep toll hikes than originally estimated."
When it is completed, the Dulles Rail extension will add 23 miles of rail line from East Falls Church in Virginia to Dulles Airport and on into Loudoun County.
Phase one, which is now under construction, adds 11.5 miles from East Falls Church to Reston. It began in March 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
Phase Two will extend the line another 11.6 miles from Wiehle Avenue in Fairfax County to Washington Dulles International Airport and on to Route 772 in Loudoun County.
Mame Reiley, chair of the Dulles Corridor Committee, added: "I am thrilled - today's vote is a victory for residents, businesses and government bodies in the Washington metropolitan area.
"Extending rail to Dulles will build a strong economic corridor because of the Silver Line that will connect the region to the Dulles Corridor and to Loudoun County."
