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The idea of eventually being able to take the Metro out to Dulles Airport has plenty of travelers plenty excited. But no one should yet jump ahead of themselves—the Metro may never even get there.

The Post reports today that political and jurisdictional fights have already delayed the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line—the stretch that will go to Dulles and into Loudoun County—and could well sink the project altogether unless certain issues are ironed out in the coming months. (The first phase out to Wiehle Avenue in Reston is slated for completion next year.)

Among the sticking points are the use of union labor to build the second phase. Virginia politicians oppose a plan by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to give bidders a 10 percent incentive if union labor is included; Loudoun County supervisors have gone so far as to ask for more time to weigh if they even want in on the project. That uncertainty has made plenty of Silver Line advocates nervous:

If Loudoun pulls out, it would likely mean the financing deals have to be renegotiated and other adjustments would have to be made. Many say that would be shortsighted, and Loudoun residents who travel the Dulles Toll Road would end up paying toll increases without having an easily accessible Metro line.

“Our number one transportation priority is rail to Dulles,” [Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon] Bulova said. “It was never rail to Loudoun County. We were happy to have Loudoun as a partner. The economic development opportunities are enormous. If they pull out, they are the losers.”

In hopes of reaching an agreement, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called a meeting on Wednesday where he hopes stakeholders can iron out their differences on the massive infrastructure project.