WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voted on Wednesday to drop a controversial labor agreement from Phase II procurement for its $6 billion, 23 mile metrorail extension project to the Dulles International Airport.
The 11 to 1 vote by the MWAA board was an effort to keep its funding partners happy for the $2.7 billion Phase II of the Silver Line, which will be 11 miles long and include six stations extending into Loudoun County.
The project labor agreement (PLA) would have given contractors bidding on the project incentives to have agreements with labor unions.
But Virginia Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell had threatened to withhold the state’s planned $150 million contribution to Phase II early next year if the PLA was not eliminated.
“Today’s vote is a major turning point for the Dulles rail project,” said MWAA chairman Michael A. Curto. “This project is vital to the economic growth of this region and the board is determined to do whatever is necessary to finish the project as quickly and cost effectively as possible.”
“Dropping the PLA preference was what we needed to do to move forward with this project and with our funding partners,” said Thomas Davis, 3rd, MWAA’s vice chairman and chairman of the Dulles Corridor Committee. “This has brought us all closer to recognizing that this project is important to the entire region and requires a team effort.”
Taylor Thornley, a spokesman for McDonnell, said that the governor is “pleased” with the MWAA board’s action.
“This is a step forward with honoring Virginia law and practice as well as the wishes of the Dulles Rail funding partners,” he said. “The commonwealth remains committed to completing the Dulles Rail project in a timely and cost effective manner and will endeavor to work with stakeholders to make this project a reality.”
