The Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership is lobbying in Richmond in support of two initiatives that would keep the Silver Line Dulles Corridor Metrorail project on track. The partnership consists of the Loudoun County, Greater Reston and Dulles Regional chambers of commerce.

The partnership is supporting budget amendments introduced by state Sens. Mark Herring and Janet Howell and Dels. Ken Plum and Tom Rust that would increase the state’s contribution for the Silver Line to as much as $500 million. This contribution would decrease the amount of the project that would be paid by Dulles Toll Road users.

“It is critical that we get as much state funding for Dulles Rail as possible to reduce the impact this project will have on our members and their employees who use the Dulles Toll Road on a daily basis,” said Tony Howard, president and CEO of the Loudoun County Chamber.

The partnership is also lobbying in favor of “The Fair and Open Competition in Government Contracting Act,” which would ensure fair and open competition for infrastructure projects in the commonwealth instead of mandated project labor agreements. The bills dealing with this issue are House Bill 33 and Senate Bill 242.

“These bills will help taxpayers get the best possible construction project at the best possible price by increasing competition, reducing waste and eliminating favoritism in public contracting,” Howard said. “This is particularly important with the Dulles Rail project.

The elimination of government-mandated project labor agreements could decrease the cost of the project by allowing open competition for the firms that bid to construct it.