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Fo-30 thy. 5 D4 THURSDAY, MAX 14, 1998 VIRGINIA THE WASHINGTON PoSt Cost of Dulles Car-Pool Lanes Exceeds Budget by 40% By MICHAEL D. SHEAR when the General Assembly ap- ing and construction expenses they said many of VDOT's stated "Since 1962, the region has by law cannot be used for projects Washington Post Staff Writer proved the bond. were $12 million more than expec- reasons for going over budget known that the median was to be on other roads, they said. Jim Atwell, VDT's assistant_ ted, and making room for future don't relate to rail service. used for rail,r Hamilton said. Each year, the state collects Virginia transportation officials commissioner for finance, said var- rail stations cost $1.6 million, he "The idea that rail might go to "These are issues we have been about $9 million more in toll reve- have overspent their $49.8 million ious factors pushed costs higher. 'said. Dulles is not new," said Katherine discussing with [VDOT] since be- nue than it spends, officials said. budget for building car-pool lanes on He cited changes, made after the Atwell said he. couldn't say K.Hamley Dchairman of the fore this project." .That money goes into a reserve the Dulles TollRoad by more than 40 project began, aimed at accommo- which costs were related to design Fairfax County Board of Supervi- Supervisor Gerald E. Connolly fund that can be used for toll road percent,prompting local officials to dating the possible future exten- changes for a possible rail line. sors. I don't know how ramps to improvements or to eliminate tolls -demand an explanation. sion of rail service to Dylles Inter- Del.Kenneth RPlum D-Eair- Iterstate 495 and noise walls and overruns make him question sooner than 2015, when they're The project, which was to be national Airport. The car-pool fax) said he thinks the higher costs engineering and fiber optics fit into VDOT's ability to estimate the cost now scheduled to cease. financedmostly with$45million in lanes are to open in November. are justified. that." of big projects. Atwell said the fund will now revenue bonds approved by the "Yes, it concerned us that these "It wasn't that the- project was Atwell said some costs-were to "We get so little money up here start to grow from scratch again. GeneralAssembly_in 1995, has costs came in here," Atwell said. simply bid low and cost high," he cover requests by the Washington_ relative to our needs,Connolly "This pretty much wipes it out," cost more than$71 million,accord- "But if we had not addressed these said.We have to recognize.that Metropolitan Aurports Authority, said.We need to stretch every he said of the added costs. ing to the\Virginia Department of [rail] issues at this time, it would the scope of the job changed. It was which runsDulles, dollar as far as it can go. Every Transportation. have cost us substantially more redesigned to accommodate rail." Tara Hamilton,a spokeswoman dollar of a cost overrun is a lost It's impegative that the Com- later. But that explanation did not sit for the authority, confirmed that dollar to us." For live,up-to-the-minutetraffic monwealth/Transportation Board VDOT said the unexpected well with some other Northern her agejlcy encouraged VDOT to Transportation officials said information on anymajor road determine why it has cost--so costs included$9.4 million to relo Virginia officials, who said the add some sound walls and a new that no other projects will be de- in the Washington area,click on much," said state Sen, William C. cate fiber-optic cables, add more costs associated with rail service ramp, but she said those additions layed or canceled because of the the above symbol on the front Mims/R-LoudounIt is signifi- sound walls, build an additional should have been included in cost were discussed long before work overrun. The extras will be paid for page of The Post's Web site at cantly more than the estimates ramp and buy more land.Engineer- projections made in 1995. And started on the car-pool lanes. out of surplus toll revenues, which www.washingtonpost.com SERIAIE b6 b7C Thie: The . sp4/98 W b2u^N) Post hC