The U.S. Senate adopted the FY2010 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act this afternoon, which included $85 million in federal funds as part of the federal government’s multi-year, $900 million commitment for the Dulles Rail Extension.

Senator Warner promoted the project in a floor speech, noting the environmental, national security and congestion relief benefits of the project, as well as the simple convenience of being able to travel easily by rail from the international gateway airport to our nation’s capital and all of its attractions.

“One of the most remarkable things that has always stunned me as a Virginian, and as a long-time resident of the national capital area is that we have never had rail or metro linkage from our international gateway airport out at Dulles into our nation's capital. With this legislation and with actions taken earlier this year, we finally have in place a financing arrangement and the beginnings of construction for the long overdue Dulles Metrorail project.”

On March 10, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood signed the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Full Funding Grant Agreement that committed $900 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to the project through 2016. The $85 million contained in the FY2010 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act represents the first portion of that commitment.

Senator Warner added:

“The $85 million included in this year's appropriations funding for the down payment and first installment of what is going to be a critical Federal funding stream is a very worthy sum that is going to provide benefits for this region and for our capital for many years to come."

Senator Warner also won passage of an amendment aimed at charting a course for our nation’s transportation system that will lead to better performance, accountability and return on investment.

With this amendment, the Senate encourages the Department of Transportation to coordinate data collection techniques and develop performance measures that focus on the larger national economic and safety benefits of transportation investments, rather than benefits specific to individual elements of the transportation system.