WMAA has always been a strong supporter of a more expensive but more convenient for their passengers underground station location near the Departures area. But after fierce protest from local municipalities, the airport Board had to fold their battle swords and approve the elevated station near the north airport garage, located some 1,150 feet away. But the Board Member Robert Clarke Brown has stirred the waters once again with his suggestion during a MWAA meeting on Wednesday 18th Jan to scrap the airport station and make the nearby Route 28 station the Airport station, connecting it with the airport via people mover.

"In my view, this would actually be superior transportation service for our passengers, compared to what is currently planned, because the people mover would take them to the terminal," says Brown.

Under the current proposal riders would get off the train on an elevated platform near the north airport garage, and then have to take an elevator down to an underground area beneath the parking bowl and take moving walkways to the terminal.

"The cost savings that we could have because of the alignment change could be substantial," says Brown.

When asked how much could be saved, the head of the Dulles Rail project, Pat Nowakowski, told the board this option could save around $70 million.
But the Board Members quickly rejected Brown’s proposal. The main goal of Phase 2 of the Dulles Metro project is to provide service to Dulles Airport. Failing to do so means the project would not meet its main goal.

"This is a creative idea, but it's not rail to Dulles," board member Mame Reiley said. "Fifteen years ago I might have been supportive, but I just don't think that's what we labored for is not to have rail to Dulles."

Sign in with a social network: