The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Commonwealth of Virginia signed a memorandum of understanding March 24 to allow MWAA to operate the Dulles Toll Road in exchange for helping to fund the $2-billion second phase of the Dulles Metrorail project. Virginia has been struggling with financing of the $3.84-billion, 23-mile extension of the METRO system. Under the agreement the project will be expedited with a target completion date of 2015. The agreement came after the Virginia Dept. of Transportation solicited bids for a public-private partnership to operate the toll road. MWAA pledged to spend $360 million to upgrade the corridor.