UPDATE 12/03: Tysons Landowners Getting Behind Rail Plan
Updated 12/3
According to this article from Sunday's Metro section, support for rebooting the Tysons rail plan to put the rail line underground appears to be dwindling.
Updated 11/29
From yesterday's Metro section:
Opponents of an elevated rail line through Tysons Corner have sued the U.S. Department of Transportation, contending that the agency violated federal law by failing to seriously consider the idea of placing the track underground.
The Tysons segment is part of the planned 23-mile Metrorail extension from Falls Church to Dulles International Airport, currently under review by DOT to determine whether it qualifies for federal funding.
Tysons Tunnel Inc., a McLean-based group of Tysons property owners, civic groups and homeowner associations, filed the suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
It was joined as a plaintiff by Ratner Cos., a firm at Route 7 and Spring Hill Road, adjacent to a portion of the proposed elevated line. Opponents of the aboveground line have said that it would hinder the development of Tysons into a mature urban area. The suit said Ratner would suffer from "visual and aesthetic blight" and "negative land use development patterns" created by the elevated tracks.
Tysons Tunnel and Ratner allege that DOT violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to carefully evaluate the proposal for a tunnel, especially in light of new "large bore" tunnel-building technology. They say the new techniques, which use machines that can build tunnels wide enough to accommodate two tracks, would have fewer adverse environmental impacts than an elevated line and reduce the cost.
They also contend that DOT violated its procedures by failing to provide for competitive bidding in awarding the design and construction contract to Dulles Transit Partners.
-- Bill Turque
Updated 6/7
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority yesterday inked a deal to begin construction on the first half of the link from Vienna to Dulles for Metrorail. The deal effectively kills the final chances of a tunnel through Tysons Corner as part of the extension unless Fairfax County kills the project altogether by denying funding when the Board of Supervisors vote later this month. Here is the news from the Metro section.
Updated 6/5
According to this article in today's Metro section, the Board of Supervisors don't seem inclined to take a hard line position in favor of the tunnel for fear of jeopardizing the entire project.
Updated 6/1
The FTA yesterday said it will not reconsider reopening an environmental review of the project as tunnel supporters had requested. The news is in today's Metro section.
Originally posted 5/31
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors won't have all of the details they would like to know before a scheduled June 18 vote to fund the beginning of Metro's extension to Dulles International Airport. That's because a report on the financial risks of the project from the Federal Transit Administration has been delayed. Read about the developments in this story from today's Metro section.
By Focus on Fairfax |
December 3, 2007; 10:04 AM ET
| Category:
Government
,
Transportation
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Posted by: DeborahReyher | June 5, 2007 12:54 PM
I would like to see local elected officials - the Board of Supervisors in particular - play more hardball on the tunnel than they have been playing. This project may be the citizens' pain to bear, but it is their legacy as leaders. Do you really want a big, ugly, hulking elevated train as your legacy?
We in Northern Virginia are at the economic heart of Virginia. Come on, Board, take a hard line on this. What is bad for Tysons and bad for our region will in turn be bad for the entire Commonwealth.
I am hugely disappointed in the Governor and believe he has not been as fully responsible as he should be in listening to Northern Virginia. Honestly, I pin the blame on him more than on any other individual. He has not stepped up in the manner he promised us when he was a candidate. Since the Governor seems out to lunch, who is willing to step up locally and listen to the citizens who will bear the brunt of the project?
Posted by: annie_sfo | June 5, 2007 3:39 PM
It is truly troubling (and amazing) that this issue cannot be resolved by the officials involved. Is there a reason the Federal Government cannot escrow the money that it has apparently set aside for this absolutely necessary project until public hearing(s) and a competitive bid situation on the true benefits and costs of the solutions available can be completed. In addition, how is the sole source vendor's contract NOT worthy of public review (particularly if they aren't going to have any competition - what "trade secrets" woudl be divulged?
A hasty, non-competitive, decision involving billions of dollars and the future of Tysons, and the areas along the proposed rail line, is short-sighted and ridiculous.
Posted by: FBlackstone | June 11, 2007 5:08 PM
5.1 billion = 200 miles of roads
got car ?
Posted by: polobserver | June 17, 2007 9:46 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Strategically, if the Board really wanted to pressure Kaine to reconsider a tunnel,they would do this:
-postpone the 6/18 vote
-hold a couple Town Halls for unrestricted public input
-advertise a full public hearing before they vote
Then the Board could rely on the voice of the people to back them when they tell Richmond they just can't vote to fund a $5.15 billion project for an elevated train.
Remember, Governor Kaine himself said the Board has NEVER told him they would not support an EL through Tysons. See http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8725
Kaine needs to hear that from the Board NOW, and the best cover the Board has for taking that stand is the strong vibrant will of the citizens.
But here is what we have instead:
-The Board refused to allow public comment at yesterday's meeting, despite calls from TysonsTunnel.org and Providence District Candidate Charlie Hall (which they never even acknowledged receiving).
-The Board then defeated Kauffman's motion to hold a modified form of public hearing on 6/18
-Connolly has made it clear that he will push for everyone to vote "yes" so long as they see the contracts first,
End result: Fairfax taxpayers and toll road commuters will be saddled with with an unending obligation to fund what will surely be ever-escalating costs. Remember, the 6/18 vote is not just to fund $400 million, it is $400 million "plus 16.1% of whatever" -- meaning the Fairfax citizens' share of the inevitable cost increases.....
There is an election on June 12th that will determine our Providence District Supervisor for the next four years. Incumbent Linda Smyth in seconding Kauffman's motion did not ONCE express any wish for citizen input -- she wanted only enough time to review the contract materials herself and to consult with other Board members. By contrast, challenger Charlie Hall has publicly called for open Town Halls and for making sure we ALL understand the risks before writing this enormous check.
Vote for Charlie Hall on June 12th: http://www.charliehall2007.org