Tim Kaine Rides Metro's Silver Line to Reston, Surveys Phase II: Report

RESTON, VA — Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine rode Metro's Silver Line on Tuesday morning, taking the train to Reston before getting on a bus and surveying the extension to Herndon and beyond.

WTOP reports that Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton's running mate during the presidential campaign, is getting back to the business of representing Virginia and rode with Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld to talk about the Silver Line extension to points west.

Kaine reportedly said that he was encouraged by the progress of Metro despite the extensive budget and maintenance problems facing the system, and that Wiedefeld has the agency moving in the right direction.

Kaine and Wiedefeld rode from Tysons Corner to the Wiehle-Reston East station, and then got on a bus to see progress on Phase II of the Silver Line, which starts with Reston Town Center and Herndon and goes out to Dulles International Airport for a total of six new stations.

Phase I opened in July 2014, and the Wiehle-Reston East station is currently the westernmost point. Kaine was instrumental in getting funding for the first phase, which included four stations.

Metro has some significant obstacles as Phase II works its way toward completion around 2020. Metro's looming budget problems and chronic safety and reliability issues have prompted some on Metro's board to suggest eliminating Phase II, although Virginia officials have countered that the proposal is political grandstanding and wouldn't save much money.

Image via U.S. Congress