Head of Silver Line Project to Take Position With Another Transit Agency

The head of the Silver Line project is stepping down to take a position with another transit agency.

Pat Nowakowski will be leaving as the project transitions from Phase 1 to Phase 2, said News4 Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) says it will conduct a nationwide search for Nowakowski's replacement.

The opening of Silver Line, a branch of the Metro extending to Dulles International Airport in Virginia, has been delayed several times. MWAA, which is overseeing the construction, has yet to decide if the project is ready to go to Metro.

Recently, Nowakowski said he didn't have confidence in a critical communication link that ties into Metro's control center, Tuss reported. That system needs to be replaced. A $2 million contract for that fix had to be awarded at Wednesday's MWAA board meeting.

The contractor building the Silver Line says that Phase 1 of the project -- which includes five new stations extending from East Falls Church, taking riders as far as Wiehle Avenue in Reston -- has been completed. MWAA officials now must verify that the contractor has met its obligations.

Also Wednesday, the authority said it expects it can keep the current $3.50 fee on the Dulles Toll Road in place through 2018, contingent on receipt of a low-interest federal loan.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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