The US Federal Transport Association (FTA) has approved the first phase of the Washington DC Metrorail expansion to Dulles International Airport, only a few months after budget concerns threatened to kill off the project.
FTA approval is a critical step towards getting the long-awaited $5.2bn project off the ground, However, the proposal still needs final approval from the US transportation secretary Mary Peters.
Spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Tara Hamilton said that the approval was an important milestone.
"Crews could break ground as early as spring," she said.
A spokesman for the Virginia Governor showed less enthusiasm, however, saying that it "was too early to celebrate," and that "FTA approval is just another step in the process."
Construction of the new 23-mile-long Silver Line is planned over two stages. The first phase will run from Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue. The second phase will stretch out to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County.
The Metrorail project is expected to ease congestion in the north Virginia area, provide better links to Dulles Airport and allow for a major redevelopment of the Tysons Corner area.
Proponents of the project, however, say that it is too expensive and buses could be used instead.
By Daniel Garrun.
