Why not make this development program a fair deal for everyone by requiring the landowners near the stations to pay for it all.

Better yet, why not have an auction where landowners who want a station can bid for it.

Who knows how much additional revenue could be generated for Metro this way.

There are probably landowners along the proposed rail line who would pay the entire cost of a station to have it located at their site.

WestGroup recently sold 13+ acres at Tysons Corner over a half mile from the planned station for a reported $170 million. Clearly the economics are there for landowners to pay if they are granted Transit Oriented Development densities.

Why should commuters on the Dulles Toll Road pay higher tolls to subsidize more development at Tysons Corner?

Tolls should be used to pay for needed improvements to the Dulles Toll Road.

Higher taxes - music to the ears of our leaders.

Gee, I wonder how much more density will be rewarded for the $$$$$$$$?

What is that old saying? Zoning for $$$$?

To: The last post, immediately above

You make valid points. I believe, however, that our leaders want a tunnel, at any cost.

Prediction: That is what they will get.

In response to Brazil question, Why would politicians support an immensely costly system that will suck the financial guts out of any other future transportation investments.

ANSWER:
Simply MONEY.
For example: Large expensive complex systems use a lot of UNIONS. Unions are prone to 'payoffs.' Read that as campaign contributions. See the most recent contributions to Gerry Connolly, Chairman FFX CO Board of Supervisors in which the Firepac, a Fireman's union political action committee gave $10,000 in just the last quarter with an aggregate to date of $22,500. Probably a self-interest donation as the Board of Supervisors controls their incomes and benefits.
For more information go to: http://fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/CF/06_bos/connolly_sc_060717.pdf
Read the whole report and weep. There are vast amounts of money that are being contributed from developers. I wonder why? Do you think there is self-interest or even a mentality that says zoning for dollars is in.
One more interesting note, if you will indulge me. The contractor chosen to build the rail to Dulles in a no bid process (Sole Source) is Bechtel, who you will remember built the Boston Big Dig. There were lots of accusations of financial wrong doing there.

Answer to Brazils Question

Would it be too wise of many people here not to see that wealth has blinded many of far more issues than traffic alone. Big campus like headquarters (AOL, MCI Worldcom) about 10 to 15 miles from where the employees live... I think Walt Disney was brilliant when he forsaw Epcott as a future city... and we as humans were too blind to see the necessity

11:13 I agree with part of what you are saying, but must disagree with the rest. People are, indeed, moving to NoVA -- although some recent data suggest that the high prices are causing others to leave. However, moving to NoVA does not equal moving to Fairfax County. But for a few locations and any areas that are rebuilt, the county is fairly well built out. There just is not room for all of those people who are moving here. Therefore, they will live somewhere else. Their children won't be in our overcrowded schools. More people won't be in our jammed parks. We won't need to build more police and fire stations. And even considering traffic, those who don't live here won't be adding to weekend traffic.

Moreover, even if areas of Fairfax County are rebuilt as dense urban areas, we will still have many people moving to NoVA living outside Fairfax County. Most people would not be able to afford the new housing at places such as Tysons Corner. The builders simply cannot afford to construct low-cost housing in these locations because of high land costs and construction costs.

Further, the facts strongly suggest that spending billions to construct the Silver Line doesn't fix traffic. The State of Virginia's EIS says so. Moreover, the zoning applications are for automobile-centric condos and offices. For example, the rezoning request for the Tysons Corner shopping center proposes to add more parking spaces than are at the Pentagon today.

Don't get caught in the rhetoric and slick presentations. Look at the facts. Building the Silver Line serves only the interests of large Tysons Corner landowners and the contractors.

My bet is on all Fairfax County taxpayers will pay for the tunnel.

That's the history of things in Fairfax County.

For those of you who question a tunnel, grin and bear it. That decision has already been made. What we are seeing now is the public relations part of it.

It does not matter how much it cost.

9:16 Most of the poll questions have not presented a factual background for the questions. What would a poll on the Silver Line produce if a question were asked: Would you support building the Silver Line for at least $4 billion if the traffic congestion on nearby roads were just as bad after constructing the line as if nothing were done at all? Would you support urbanization of Tysons Corner if it did not include enough affordable housing for lower income workers? Etc.

The existing polls have not accurately set forth the facts and, as a result, have produced distorted results. People are now learning the facts. Do a good poll and see what happens.

To: August 1, 2006 09:16 PM

You wrote, "That means zero of your tax dollars, except for a portion of the toll money you may have paid, are paying for Dulles Metro."

What???

Who do you think pays the Federal income taxes that are paying for the Federal share?

That $900 billion doesn't grow on trees. It gets sucked out of our pockets.

As for the tolls, VDOT or MWAA plan to suck over $200 million in higher tolls for Metro from commuters on the Dulles Toll Road, just in the next ten years alone.

That money could build more lanes on the Dulles Toll Road, actually alleviate congestion, and earn even more toll revenue indefinitely for even more road improvements.

Why build more Metro rail that requires perpetual operatiing subsidies from non-riding taxpayers? Why not build more toll lanes that are paid for by the users?

If West*Group wants rail in a tunnel, let them pay for it.

Here's a question for the Post's reporters to ask. The per-mile cost to construct the 2.9 mile Green Line tunnel in 1997-99 was about $158 million. Needless to say, construction cost are much higher today than back then. Yet it seems that the Silver Line supporters are assuming costs the 3.9 Tysons Corner tunnel to be less. How can that be?

I wish the area residents who make statements about what BRT can and cannot do would take some time to "get informed." We have had some great presentations by BRT experts, and I, a former doubter, am now sold on the value of BRT systems.

Wolf and Davis are going to be finished politically when (not if) this turns into the Tysons Big Dig. They put out a letter warning about the tunnel as cover, but watch what they do to keep this moving forward to extravagant waste! West Group has given too much money to Kaine and the Board of Supervisors. Wolf and Davis want their piece of the action.

Come on............what do we hear....

The PR is in overdrive. The surveys are flawed..........the questions are bent (not leaning) toward getting the right answer.

"Do you want rail to Dulles?"

Sure, why not. The expectation is that so many drivers will use rail, then the Toll Road will be open driving for me.

When was the last time we heard a politician say, your taxes are going to go up, the tolls will increase, etc......so we can fund the Silver Line?

Why....so there can be 4 stops in Tysons.

If there were one, possibly two transit stations, think of the money that could be saved to bring transit options to western Fairfax. If I were those folks, I would be hopping mad.

It is disappointing to hear Chairman Connolly want to sock it to toll paying commuters to fund a tunnel to benefit West Group. Connolly was paid big dollars for "consulting" by a company owned by West Group relatives. Even more shocking are the multiple $10,000 at a time "contributions" from West Group executives to Gov. Kaine after his election. If you follow the money, you already know what Kaine's "choice" will be September 1st.

The folks at West Group and at the other big Tysons Corner landowners don't want an honest comparison, because anything short of the Silver Line won't permit their hired man, Gerry Connolly, to give them the zoning changes that they want. Keep in mind that our chairman of the county board works for SAIC, one of the landowners affected by these decisions. Only in Fairfax County would this not be a disqualifying conflict of interest.

Also, note that Governor Kaine is being advised on the tunnel issue by Scott Kasprowicz, who is both an deputy commissioner of VDOT and a landowner in Reston near where the Silver Line would be built. Thanks to the Post for pointing out this big conflict of interest. The Governor should postpone his decision on the tunnel and start the analysis all over without Mr. Kasprowicz's participation.