In a press release issued late today, Arlington County officials confirmed the report of a study indicating that the cost of the proposed five-mile Columbia Pike streetcar line will cost nearly double the earlier estimate. According to a report in the online blog, ARLNow, the press release indicates the cost is now estimated to be between $242 and $261 million, compared to the 2007 estimate of $161 million. Still, the county is pushing ahead with the plan, according to its press release, because the impacted corridor is slated to add 2.2 million square feet of commercial development over the next 30 years. The project is slated to start construction in 2015 and begin public service in 2017.

The plans for an extension of the line up Route 7 through Falls Church to Tysons Corner is also now being considered.