Am I the only person who continues to believe that rail to Dulles is unnecessary, a bad idea and waste of money? I agree that extending the Orange Line to Tysons makes sense, but there has to be a better, lower cost way to extend mass transit to Dulles.

Light rail comes to mind (maglev would be even better) or a dedicated bus lane in the median. Are there really going to be enough commuters to create even a minimal ROI?

A better way to spend the money, IMHO, would be to create a metro line between Tysons and Bethesda or Springfield. The hub and spoke model does a poor job of moving people to anywhere but DC quickly.

I wrote in with the new train cars question. It's not that I think the blue line has the worst commute -- not by a long shot! I used to see what the Orange line looked like on a daily basis and all my sympathy to them. Their commute has improved considerably, to the point where most of time you can easily fit onto an orange line train. Sacrificing the orange train / blue train schedule is not the problem; the problem is that they continue to make changes that turn the blue line into misery. With 8-car orange line trains running down the line, both blue and orange lines will be affected. And since the blue line runs only once every 10 minutes or so right now, and often with four car trains, I can only forsee angry blue line riders. Maybe I'm missing something, and I hope I am, but it just doesn't look good.

Why do people here (including the federal government) not believe in "if you're going to do it, do it right or don't do it at all?" The tunnel is the right answer, especially with the land owners (who will benefit greatly) funding the extra cost. The extra engineering was way over estimated as you just have to have a big TBM start off and grind away. Tysons is already a disaster - an above ground line will make it worse.

The best idea still is to just keep the metro in the tollroad median and have a trolley system that goes through tysons and connects to the metro. Not only would it be cheaper, but it would encourage people to take mass transit throughout tysons, instead of still being forced to drive (you think people are going to wait for metro trains that run every 10 minutes non-rush hour to go to lunch and somewhere on the weekend?). Just wait - idiocy like this will drive away investment from DC as it will drive away intelligent, tolerant but not infalliable people who realize that life isn't worth it to deal with this nonsense forever.

I've asked this questionb on the blog and for your online chat, but no repsonse yet. I'm sure there are lots of other commuters who drive in from Gainesville who would really, really like to know when the I-66 lane expansion will be finsihed. VDOT was saying October as far back as last year, but is that the latest scheduled completion date?

Thanks!

After all the hype and determination to bum-rush rail to Dulles, I remain unconvinced that this project is necessary. Studies have shown that Dulles rail will not significantly impact traffic congestion in Tysons and the Dulles Corridor. This is a boondoggle and a vanity project, pure and simple. The primary beneficiaries are those who are promoting and pushing it - developers, speculators, politicians looking for bragging rights, and transit advocates who just can't get enough expensive, subsidized rail built and operated at everyone's expense, ESPECIALLY at the expense of those who won't benefit from it (read: MOST of us!).

Why isn't bus rapid transit (BRT) to Dulles being considered? BRT could be done for less than 20% of the cost of rail to Dulles. Want to build more rail in NOVA? Why not extend ther Orange Line from Vienna to Centerville or Manassas? Oh, I know. There aren't any rich developers, environmentalists, rail advocates, and yuppies who paid too much for a tract house in the right zip code clamoring for it. Plus, extending the Orange Line would cost a lot less than the $4 billion (plus perpetual operating subsidies) and leave something over for new roads. Can't have THAT now, can we? ESPECIALLY since we all know rail makes new roads unnecessary (yeah, right. That's why we have the nation's second-worst traffic even with its second-largest subway).

And why isn't this $4 billion rail project being subjected to at least the same study and scrutiny that's given a proposed 6-lane highway? The $1 billion ICC has been studied to DEATH!

Finally, what's behind this new-found obsession with turning Tyson's Corner into this "walkable downtown"? Anyone out there REALLY believe throwing $4 billion at a dubiously-beneficial rail line is going to turn Tyson's into another Midtown Manhattan? And why is development reachable by an expensive, subsidized train so "smart" when development you can reach by yourself is "sprawl"?

Let's remember when we throw the term subsidized around that the automobile is by far the most subsidized form of travel.

Every road, every traffic light, every traffic cop, is a subsidy.

Let's also not forget the foregin policy expenditures (coups and wars) that are necessary due to the ridiculous idea that automoblies aren't subsidized.

My health also subsidizes automobile traffic (not to mention the health of the planet).

We can't afford not to subsidize public transportation. It's the automobile subsidy that has to end.

"Let's remember when we throw the term subsidized around that the automobile is by far the most subsidized form of travel.

Every road, every traffic light, every traffic cop, is a subsidy.

Let's also not forget the foregin policy expenditures (coups and wars) that are necessary due to the ridiculous idea that automoblies aren't subsidized.

My health also subsidizes automobile traffic (not to mention the health of the planet).

We can't afford not to subsidize public transportation. It's the automobile subsidy that has to end."

These statements are so silly they don't even deserve an answer, but since you're obviously uninformed, I'll take the time to educate you.

People buy and maintain their own cars. Hardly a driver subsidy.

Roads, traffic lights, traffic cops, etc. are paid for with use taxes - tolls, fuel taxes, truck levies (that's why we have weigh stations), registration fees, taxes on auto insurance premiums. Hardly a driver susbsidy.

In fact, many of the driver-generated revenue I mentioned is diverted to subsidize transit. That's the case in NY, NJ, PA, CA and our own northern Virginia. That's in addition to the subsidies transit receives from the general fund

As for the foreign policy coups and wars, remember oil will heat your rear-end this winter and it fuels the electricy for the road opposition you're using your computer to write about.

As for health, you own silly car and road hating ids the culprit. Stop opposing roads and we'll have less air pollution. Vehilces stalled in traffic congestion on an inadequate road network pollute, duh!

Were it not for the massive subsidies it receives, transit would not exist. According to WMATA's own figures, Metro rail fares pay for only 30% of the cost of a ride.

If I were you, I would stop begruding those who are paying for your precious transit. Not even a stray dog bites the hand that feeds it.

And next time, try posting some substantiated facts instead of reciting silly slogans.

>

What's wrong with BRT? Why is expensive heavy rail be the solution being considered?

I've got no problem with subsidizing transit.

My problem is the the sense of entitlement mindset of transit advocates - their attitude that they must ALWAYS get what they want (expensive rail) and that we must NEVER build another highway.

What's up with that?

Someone please explain it me:

Why are we extending Metrorail to Dulles Airport? The Tysons extension, I can see, but why are we spending $4 billion (plus maintenace and operating subsidies IN PERPETUITY) to carry Metrorail to Dulles Airport?

When I lived in Reston, Dulles was a 10-minute drive and $9.00/day to park or a $20.00 cab ride, including tip.

Does anyone really think folks in Reston or Herndon will drive and park then haul their luggage to a Metro station (in the middle of a 12-lane highway, no less) THEN wait for a train to Dulles AND drag their luggage to the terminal AND do the reverse after a long flight home when a cab takes 15 minutes and the driver will handle the luggage for a $5 tip?

Washington Flyer runs a shuttle from the West Falls Church Metro station to Dulles for $16 round Trip. Why $4 bilion + for rail to Dulles?

Let's get real. How many of YOU will take AT LEAST two trains from home in Maryland, DC, or Alexandria to Dulles (don't forget the luggage) AND do the reverse after a long flight home?

Why isn't BRT from Tysons or West Falls Church to Dulles being considered? Why is heavy rail the only mode planned?

Our GREAT GRANDCHILDREN and THEIR descendents will be paying for this. Why the rush? Why the sense of urgency?

Contrary to what some believe, rail to Dulles won't relieve congestion on the Toll road. Most of those who use transit to commute from Herndon and Reston already take the buses from the Park and Ride to West Falls Church. The cars on the Toll Road are going to areas where Metro doesn't go. At least not in a practical way.

Frankly I don't see the bang for the buck. Like the old lady in the old burger commercial, I want to know "where's the beef?"

I wish someone would explain this region's preoccupation with rail. I wish someone would explain to me why the knee-jerk reaction is always "we need more rail" whenever the issue of traffic congestion is raised.

I have no problem with transit. I have no problem with rail, where it is sustainable and where it makes sense. I'm frankly glad we have Metro. I just don't see it as a cure-all.

And I have a real problem with the attitude of pushing for so-called "dense, transit-oriented development along the rail corridor" to justify this thing. It's putting the cart before the horse. If anyone encoraged new development to justify a new highway, they would be accused of promoting sprawl.

I wish SOMEONE would tell me why my tax dollars must go for this boondoggle when there are cheaper alternatives. And ESPECIALLY when I'm doing without the roads I need.

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