Va. Gains Time to Save U.S. Funding for Dulles Rail

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and Sen. John W. Warner are among the Virginia political leaders working to save the project. (By Susan Biddle -- The Washington Post)
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"It was never transmitted that Dulles was not performing," Scandling said. "There was never an 'Oh, by the way,' and these are regularly scheduled meetings."

FTA spokesman Wes Irvin responded to inquiries about the possible contradictions by referring to a letter Simpson sent yesterday to Kaine.

In the letter, Simpson said the "scorecard" sent to Congress on Thursday does not reflect the ratings "that FTA plans to assign to the project in the February 2008 Annual Report," which the agency is scheduled to release next month.

Simpson also repeated some of the strong language that he used last week to describe the project's outlook. "The cumulative risks and uncertainties that characterize the Dulles project in its current form are extremely likely to result in further cost escalation and schedule delay," he wrote.

Warner urged all parties to work cooperatively to save the rail line.

The rail line would go from Falls Church to the airport and into Loudoun County. The project's first phase, for which Virginia is seeking the federal funds, would have four stations at Tysons Corner and end at Wiehle Avenue in Reston.

Staff writer Bill Turque contributed to this report.