With federal funding for the 23-mile Metrorail extension in danger, is the project essentially dead?

The Washington Post reported today that Gov. Tim Kaine said burdensome toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road might be needed to make up for the funding shortfall if the Federal Transit Administration doesn’t provide its share of the project. Kaine says he would be unlikely to support such a toll increase.

Federal transportation officials told Virginia leaders last week that is unlikely to agree to the $900 million federal share of the $5 billion project.

The state still has some time to revise the project.  But if federal funding is in doubt, rail to Dulles may never become more than a pipe dream.