On Wednesday morning, Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton spoke about the future Metro's Silver Line, a rail line in Northern Virginia. Connaughton said eliminating pro-labor incentives from the construction contract is crucial to ensure the state can contribute the $150 million promised for the rail project.
However, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which is overseeing construction of the Silver Line project, is unwilling to change an incentive in a labor agreement for the second phase. And because of a bill preventing the state from giving money to the project if labor incentives are in place, the state has stalled its contribution.
While the first part of the project is already under construction and expected to be completed in 2013, delays in the bidding process have put the start of the second part of the construction project behind.
(Read more about Virginia's position on the Silver Line project...)
