Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) announced that the highway bill approved by the House includes the necessary federal approval to extend mass transit in the Dulles corridor. To date, Wolf has worked to secure more than $160 million in federal funds for the project, but getting the authorization for the plan in the six-year highway and transit bill is critical to the future of the project. "If the project failed to get in, it would have been another six years before the chance would come around again," Wolf said. "Getting this authorization is vital. This is a major step forward."
Wolf, working with the other members of the region's congressional delegation, is seeking authorization for $600 million over six years to pay the federal share of the project. Wolf said the bill also includes another $5 million to help pay for the widening of I-66 westbound from the Rosslyn Tunnel to the Dulles connector. Wolf secured $1 million in the FY 2004 transportation appropriation bill to begin studying the feasibility of the project. "People are tired of wasting time sitting in traffic congestion," Wolf said. "Both of these projects are critical to helping area residents spend less time sitting in traffic and more time doing the things they want to do. The footprint to widen I-66 already exists, and with new quiet pavement technology, once widened, the road could prove to be even quieter than what presently exists," Wolf continued. "The state needs to move as quickly as possible to open up this choke point." Wolf said the bill also includes authorization to spend:
* $6 million to help with the construction costs of widening Route 7 from the Reston Parkway to Rolling Holly Drive in Fairfax County;
* $2 million for preliminary engineering to widen the Route 7 Bypass in Loudoun County from East Market Street to Route 9.
* $1 million for improvements and traffic calming on Route 50 at Gilbert's Corner in Loudoun County.
* $4.5 million for improvements to the I-66/Route 29
interchange in Prince William County.