Sen. Webb Attends Groundbreaking For Rosslyn Metro Improvements

Sen. Jim Webb attended the groundbreaking for improvement projects at the Rosslyn Metro Station. Sen. Webb secured $3 million in federal funds over the last two years for the projects. The Rosslyn Metro station currently serves more than 34,000 people every day, making it one of the busiest stations in the Metrorail System, and the busiest station in Virginia.

“This is what happens when federal, state, and local governments work together in a constructive way alongside private business for the benefit of our citizens,” said Senator Webb. “Metro is an important part of the answer to Northern Virginia’s traffic problems, and we’ve worked hard in our office to increase overall funding for the Metro System.”

The funds for the project will be used to construct a new entrance at the station and three high-speed elevators to improve the capacity and ease of access to the station.  The project will build a new mezzanine with underground connecting passageway, station manager kiosk, and fare collection equipment.  It will also include street improvements for bus and pedestrian traffic, an emergency stairway, and a new elevator, which will reduce the need for shuttles from nearby stations if one elevator is out of service. 

In addition to the $3 million in federal funds, Arlington County is investing $32.6 million into the station improvements.

Last year, Sen. Webb helped secure an additional $150 million in federal funds for capital and preventive maintenance projects for the entire Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Sen. Webb was joined at today’s groundbreaking by Dennis Leach, Transportation Director, Dept. of Environmental Services, Jay Fisette, Chair, Arlington County Board, Chris Zimmerman, Vice Chair, Arlington County Board, Richard Sarles, Interim General Manager, WMATA, and Kathleen Webb, Executive Development Officer, JBG Companies.

Higher resolution photos of the event can be downloaded from:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/senatorwebb/5120389039/ .