More Delays and Costs for D.C. Metro's Silver Line Extension

"The second phase of the Silver Line Metro extension is 13 months behind schedule and might not open for passenger service until 2020," reports Lori Aratani.

"In addition, the rail line’s first phase, which opened in July, could be as much as $226 million over budget, according to current estimates. Officials said design modifications, along with work to finalize Phase 1, will add as much as $76 million to the project’s cost, putting its price tag at $2.98 billion. The first phase was $150 million over budget and six months late when passenger service began last summer."

So far officials at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is responsible for the $5.6 billion rail project (D.C. Metro will operate the line when it is complete), has blamed the cost overruns and delays on design changes. Aratani reports that the second phase has already racked up more than 150 design changes. The article includes more detail and context about the challenges facing the line.