Photo by Tony Ibarra

After months of concerns over whether it would participate in Metro’s Silver Line extension out to Dulles and beyond, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted today 5-4 to join the massive infrastructure project. With the vote, the Silver Line’s second phase will be able to proceed, adding two stations beyond Dulles in Loudoun County.

Today’s vote included the usual litany of complaints about the project, including arguments that it lead to an increase in county taxes. “There is no difference between the Vikings…who came to plunder and pillage…and Metro,” said Eugene Delgaudio, the board’s most fervent opponent of the Silver Line, during the debate.

Regardless, it was concerns over lost economic development opportunities that seemed to drive proponents to victory. A recent report found that the county could stand to lose more than $25 billion in economic development by 2040 if it opted out of the Silver Line.

“With the financing plan in place and almost every question raised and answered by the Board during this process, this is an extremely positive step for Loudoun County and the region,” stated Patty Nicoson of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association in a statement released after the vote.

The board also voted to establish special tax districts to help fund the $270 million Loudoun County will kick in for construction of the Silver Line’s second phase, which is expected to open five years after work begins. The first phase, which will connect the end of the Orange Line to Reston through Tysons Corner, will be ready in 2013. The whole project will add 23 miles worth of track to the region’s rail network, and is set to cost $6 billion.