Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - MWAA Approves IAD Metro Underground Station

Looks like the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority approved the more expensive plan for an underground metro station which is closer to the terminal than the less expensive above ground station. I think it's the right decision ^

From the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dulles-airport-to-get-underground-metro-station/2011/04/06/AFaXtarC_story.html

A Metrorail station at Dulles International Airport will be built underground, giving hurried travelers sheltered access near the airport terminal.

But convenience will come at a price.

The station will cost about $330 million more than an aboveground stop, according to a report by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is managing construction of the 23-mile extension of Metrorail from East Falls Church to Ashburn.

The airports authority’s board approved the more expensive underground station Wednesday, even as it faced criticism from state and local funding partners.

Mame Reiley, who chairs the board’s Dulles rail committee, called the aboveground option a “second-class station [at a] first-class airport.”

The underground stop will be closer to the main terminal, about 550 feet away. The aboveground station, next to the north garage, would have been 1,150 feet away.

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Looks like the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority approved the more expensive plan for an underground metro station which is closer to the terminal than the less expensive above ground station. I think it's the right decision ^

From the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dulles-airport-to-get-underground-metro-station/2011/04/06/AFaXtarC_story.html

I park in the North parking lot and walk to the terminal all the time. To suggest it is an arduous walk is ludicrous. If you can't walk 1150 feet pulling a bag or pushing a luggage cart, you need to exercise more.

Once more, our brilliant politicians have chosen the more expensive option when a cheaper one would have worked just fine. Of course, when it is someone else's money, who cares, right?

It is not like they couldn't install a few moving walkways for $330 Million. No better or worse than switching terminals at most airports.

And they are only saving 600 feet of walking.... And now you are going to have to take a elevator, stairs, or a escalator.

Really 600 feet for $330 Million. I bet someone's cousin gets the contract.

You'd think the idiots of the MWAA could find better use for the extra money they are about to spend - like a new C/D terminal, for instance.

Come on guys, they couldn't resist the opportunity to build another station with nonfunctioning escalators. I look forward to hauling my luggage up to the mezzanine, wondering if at least the escalator to the street will work, knowing that it won't.

You'd think the idiots of the MWAA could find better use for the extra money they are about to spend - like a new C/D terminal, for instance.

That would be nice ^ After the last disastrous train project, I wonder how bad this one will be... :eek:

You'd think the idiots of the MWAA could find better use for the extra money they are about to spend - like a new C/D terminal, for instance.

EWR will get a new runway before IAD replaces C an D.

EWR will get a new runway before IAD replaces C an D.

You're right about that. Since a new C/D terminal needs to be a joint UA/MWAA endeavor, we know that UA won't pony up the cash to improve IAD, because in the new UA, it's all about EWR, and IAD gets the cast-offs.

IAD has a lot of walking already. When added to the amount of walking it takes to get through security and to the gate, MWAA is right to cut back anywhere they can on additional walking distance.

I don't understand why they killed the above ground rail right in front of the terminal. The "beauty" of the ground transportation and arrivals levels must be lost on me.