Dulles Rail Project: The Big Picture

This is a series of posts to keep track of the future Dulles Rail project and the transit oriented development projects surrounding the proposed Metro stations.

[Paul Fulton]

The Dulles rail project is a waste of money. The County supervisors are using it as an excuse to massively increase density. In the end, it will cost twice as much as they are currently saying and revenues will be half as much. We are being duped!

[Mary Wilson]

I agree with Mr. Fulton. The government is out of control, raising taxes and at the same time lowering our standard of living.
Things only look worse in the future. For example, the Fairfax County supervisors want to allow a tripling of the density in Tysons Corner. They tell us that a single metro line running through Tysons will not only alleviate the current congestion, but will also make life great for all of us when all the new buildings go up. What a mess!

[Bill R]

Agreeing with you both, then you can turn your attention to the issue surrounding the source for the monies to PAY for such a project! As I recall, non-metro riding commuters are subsidizing the system as it is (which makes NO sense to me). So, while the ineveitable plea for money sources gets rolled out, keep in mind the the Metro Board also is considering spending MILLIONS on outfitting trains and stations with signs in the Spanish language. The whole thing is dysfunctional.

[Cindy Jewell]

What I don't get is that the Orange line already is packed and they are going to make things worse with the gigantic development at the Vienna metro station. Also, the tunnel under the Potomac already is a significant bottleneck with just two lines sharing it. How is there going to be capacity for a third line? I have always been surprised that Metro does not oppose the Dulles extension because it is going to be a big headache for them. Imagine all the problems!

[Bill R]

It's been made sufficiently clear, through the years, that METRO is not terrible good at managing thier finances, much less the operation, overall. In the grand scheme of things, the Dulles corridor is not the main offender in traffic over-flow. If any growth should occur throughout the system, it should be concentrated elsewhere. If I were a reguler user of Metro, I would probably want them to bring all of the existing stations and trains up to spec, though. Elevators and escalators would be a great place to start.

[Ralph Putnam]

Bill R makes a good point and so does Cindy Jewel. The Dulles corridor extension is going to worsen metro's budget woes; one by product will be a deterioration in service througout the system. That's why as a DC resident who uses Metro I am against the Dulles extension. But if I were a Virginia resident I would be concerned for another reason: when the budget overruns occur the local government is going to have to raise taxes to finish the system.

[Bill R]

I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and their ability to manage the budget effectively as it is.

[Jill Schwab]

I agree Bill: they can't manage the budget well or anything else. I was stuck in traffic last night in Tyson's for an hour, missed an appointment. On the radio I heard good news: a metro tunnel would be OK in the Tyson's area. Great news! Now the Fairfax supervisors can allow a tripling of the density at Tysons! No problem! The metro will solve all of our problems! How much money do you think the developers have given to the supervisors?

[Charles Williams PE]

I am amazed by the short sightedness of many of the postings. If all we can see is problems to our large scale projects, then NOTHING could EVER be built. I am glad there are people around with the strength of mind and character to see the problems through, and overcome them with economical solutions. My concern as a civil engineer is the defeatist, Luddite attitude that is starting to prevail in America. Stagnation in positive urban planning and growth will lead to other moral failures.