| Local
leaders React to FTA's concerns |
By Rebecca Plevin
and Leslie Perales
Observer Staff Writers |
| The Federal Transit Administration's move this week to delay
its decision on funding the proposed Metro extension to Dulles
Airport has left local leaders wondering what other options
are available should the federal government not fund the project. |
| "The project is so critically important to the corridor,
so the notion that we would not go forward with it is totally
unrealistic," said Del. Ken Plum (D-36th). "I can assure you
that we're committed to making rail in the corridor possible." |
| However, Plum said, if the administration does not approve
financing for the Silver Line, other financing plans would
have to be made. While Plum is not opposed to private participation
in the project, he said "the idea of selling the toll road
is foolish." |
| Plum said some private investors live outside of the area
and they simply want to increase tolls for a great profit.
He referred to the Dulles Greenway, a privately owned road
where tolls could increase to $4.80 each way by 2012. Plum
said that toll road revenues should only benefit those who
live in the area. |
| Del. Tom Rust (R-86th) also said he has heard rumors that
private developers could want to purchase the toll road, but
he has not seen any specific plans for that. |
| "I think at this point we have to have an open mind," he
said. "But I think rail must be a component of any decision
like that." Like Plum, Rust said that any such plan would
need to ensure that "financial remuneration stays in the Dulles
corridor." |
| "Without the federal money, we are in serious, serious,
serious jeopardy," Rust said. But the FTA's announcement that
it will delay its decision provides at least a "glimmer of
hope" for the project, he said. |
| Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said she is satisfied
that more time is being given to address the concerns of the
FTA. "We've been very fortunate in that Gov. Kaine and Sen.
Warner are working very hard to make sure that we understand
what the issues are and we respond to them and keep the project
on track," Hudgins said. |
| The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also sent a letter
this week to FTA Administrator James Simpson that reiterates
the project's importance and outlines the ways in which the
extension would benefit the economy, both locally and across
the country. Gov. Tim Kaine has said that he and the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority should respond to the FTA by
Friday. |
| Hudgins said she does not feel the need to seek an alternate
funding plan until a decision is made on the federal funding,
but the idea of selling the toll road to private investors
does not interest her. "I think we all expressed concern as
to whether or not that was a good option," she said. |
| Dranesville Supervisor John Foust also expressed concerned
about such a move. The option of involving a private investor
in the project would be a "very serious mistake," Foust said.
"I don't see it happening." |
| He said the Dulles Toll Road is an "extremely valuable public
asset," and private investors would try to make high returns
off the toll road. He said he is already concerned that elected
officials do not make decisions on rates on the Dulles Toll
Road. |
| Instead, Foust said, if federal funding falls through, elected
officials and citizens should take the opportunity to re-evaluate
a number of concerns related to the project and reconsider
options such as a tunnel through Tysons Corner and competitive
bidding of the project. |
| "We all want rail to Dulles, we just need to deliver it
in a way that is preferred by the community," he said. |
| Like Foust, Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis said if the
current plan gets derailed, he would like to see the project
revived, so they could address problems such as the lack of
competitive bidding and high costs. Without a specific proposal,
DeBenedittis said it is hard to know if a private investor
would benefit the rail project, but "I don't think it's a
good idea now." |
| Eileen Curtis, president and CEO of the Dulles Regional
Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has thought about what
would happen if the project does not receive federal funding,
and "it's not pretty." |
| She said she has not heard about many ideas for financing
that portion, and "right now the only option that we could
think of is private ownership" of the Dulles Toll Road. If
that were to happen, she said, she would hope Virginia would
install an oversight board to ensure a cap on the tolls. |
| In response to last week's grim news, many local organizations
have banded together to show their support for the Metro.
The Dulles Corridor Rail Association and the Dulles Area Transportation
Association, among others, recently launched Dulles Metrorail
Now. The group's Web site features an online petition that
states members "support expeditious approval of the project
by the Federal Transit Administration and the beginning of
construction in early 2008." More than 200 corporations and
groups, as well as about 50 individuals, have signed the petition.
|
| "The longer we delay, the more it's going to cost, so we're
interested in seeing this resolved as soon as possible," said
Patty Nicoson, president of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association.
|
| Members of DATA are also considering collecting signatures
at area park-and-ride lots, according to Jim Larsen, executive
director of DATA. "The situation changes daily and with the
extension given by Secretary Peters to Governor Kaine we want
to be sure we do everything possible to support this effort
of obtaining approvals," Larsen said. |
| A press conference with several local chambers of commerce,
DATA, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association and others is scheduled
for Friday morning. |
