WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The U.S. Department of Transportation released a brutal audit of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project on Friday, attacking the project's rising cost and slippery timeline and calling into question whether it can pass federal muster.

The results of the yearlong audit cast a shadow over the 23-mile, more than $5 billion rail extension as the Federal Transit Administration finishes its own two analyses of the project's first phase.

Those reports, expected in early August, will determine whether the initial 11.6-mile leg can move forward.

In December 2004, the first phase was projected to cost $1.52 billion, and finish by 2009, according to report from the DOT's Office of Inspector General.

By March 2007, that price had grown to as high as $2.7 billion with a completion date of 2013.

"In past reviews of major projects, rapid cost growth and schedule slippages so early in the project were clear signs of risk," the audit stated. "The reliability of the current [Dulles rail] cost estimate is unknown."

The FTA has yet to determine whether it will commit $900 million to the new rail line.

Dulles rail already ranks poorly on the agency's scale of cost-effectiveness, which weighs potential ridership with cost.

Passing that rating, the audit said, "may prove difficult with the current cost increases."

"This report raises important concerns regarding the Dulles Metrorail project and reinforces our decision to call for an additional, independent review of the project's costs and risks," said FTA Administrator James Simpson in a statement Friday.

The audit recommended the FTA conduct all of its reviews "with extra vigilance" and give additional scrutiny to local funding sources and contract agreements, among other recommendations.

The first phase to Wiehle Avenue in Reston is paid for by the $900 million federal funds, along with the local tax district raising $400 million, with the balance to come from Dulles Toll Road revenue.

The toll-road portion could amount to $1.4 billion or more. Funding is far less certain for the last phase, to Dulles airport.

The audit also called the competition for the project "limited," echoing prior criticisms of how the state and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which will take over the project, reached their contract with Bechtel Infrastructure and Washington Group International.

State and MWAA officials have nevertheless expressed confidence in their project.

Matt Tucker, head of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said cost increases are common for megaprojects like Dulles Rail.

"I'm confident that we're going to meet the FTA cost effectiveness threshold," he said.

wflook@dcexaminer.com