The Washington Post account of yesterday's Capitol Hill summit on the Metro to Dulles project is entertaining reading, if nothing else. People shouting at each other. Gerald Ford's former Secretary of Transportation (William T. Coleman, Jr.) telling Gov. Kaine, "you're making the biggest mistake you've made so far in your career" if he moves ahead with an "aerial" option for Tysons Corner. Kaine becoming "angry at one point" and "telling a tunnel speaker,'Do not interrupt me.'" Frank Wolf continuing his melodrama about how "If we miss this opportunity, it will be a long, long time before we'll ever get it again." Whatever, Frank, and it's 1938 again too, right?
Perhaps more interesting than any of that was the roster of which Virginia elected officials attended the meeting (John Warner, Frank Wolf, Tim Kaine) and which skipped it (Tom Davis, Jim Moran, Jim Webb). That corresponds to what I've been hearing for weeks now, that Davis and Moran have moved to the tunnel side of this issue, while Wolf and Kaine remain opposed to the tunnel despite the fact that 80% in a recent poll in Fairfax County said they want one -- not the aerial option. By the way, I'm not sure where Jim Webb is on this issue, but it's interesting that John Warner showed up to the Metro meeting -- on the wrong side, apparently -- after staying out of this issue for a long time.
Anyway, what's so ridiculous about all this is the fact that the tunnel would be so much better on all counts -- aesthetics, urban planning, cost, disruption during construction, lifespan, you name it. TysonsTunnel.org lists the reasons for a tunnel here. So why is this so difficult? From people I've talked to that are very knowledgeable on this project, it's a mystery. The comment one tunnel supporter made to me was "it just doesn't make any rational sense."
One possibility could be that sole-source bidder Bechtel is threatening to take a hike. As far as Frank Wolf is concerned, what I hear is that he's simply "like an aircraft carrier -- he makes a decision than doesn't turn easily." Yet Congress has assured Virginia that money will not be jeopardized if it explores a tunnel option.
So why not at least explore building a tunnel? It makes ZERO sense not to do that. None. Nada.
Also, how can people claim to be on the side of the tunnel, then not even look at evidence indicating it can be built at no more cost (possibly less) and the same amount of time (or less) as an aerial option, utilizing single bore drilling technology? Are aerial supporters so concerned that this project won't work with Bechtel that they're willing to: a) destroy any chance of Tysons becoming a model "edge city"; b) proceed with an extremely unpopular option as opposed to an extremely popular one; c) saddle Virginia with a big mistake on a 100-year, multi-billion-dollar project; d) substantially reduce economic benefits of rail in the Tysons Corner area, etc?
This is stupidity. Everyone knows what the answer is here, so just do it for god's sake: stop making excuses, open up this project to bidding and get this thing built with a tunnel ASAP. If not, I'd have to agree with Secretary Coleman about the "biggest mistake...in your career." Like a multi-billion-dollar mistake that will burden northern Virginia for generations to come? Yeah, that's a pretty big mistake, I'd say!
P.S. The proposed $300 million in cuts make precious little sense. For instance, how about "eliminating $77 million in road improvements to Route 7 in Tysons Corner that can be paid for with separate state money?" As Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member T. Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) says, "It's a zero-sum game. The only way Route 7 gets done is if some other project doesn't." Exactly right, so why are we playing these stupid games?
We have (literally) hundreds of thousands of cars passing through Tysons every day. If we want to make it a real city, the only option is a cheaper, safer, less intrusive Tunnel.
I fear Governor Kaine is getting Richmond vision. I appreciate his desire to keep costs low and not wreck the project, but he and Wolf are getting seriously out of touch with the people and needs of Fairfax County.
"Rail to Dulles is moving forward. The Governor and MWAA have made the necessary calibrations to keep the project on track.""Dulles rail is an investment in Northern Virginia's future. Strengthening our region's public transit means strengthening our region's economy. Dulles airport is the largest hub in the Washington Metropolitan region. For Northern Virginia to continue being an economic powerhouse well into the 21st Century, it is vital this metro connection become a reality."
"I am pleased to see that the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have identified $306 million in cost savings for the Dulles rail project. The Federal Transit Administration stated the need to shed project costs to meet its cost effectiveness criteria, and I believe the sponsors of the Dulles project have made good on that request. Working with FTA, I believe the Commonwealth and MWAA have made the difficult, but necessary, reductions and revisions to the project to allow FTA to advance the project into the Final Design stage.The Dulles International Airport is one of the principal economic engines that drive the Northern Virginia economy. To ensure that the airport and the Northern Virginia region remain competitive in an increasingly globalized business environment, it is imperative that the Dulles rail project be completed in an expeditious manner. The project will take thousands of cars off the road, improve the region's air quality and connect some of the region's most important job centers with the Metro system. When completed, this critical transportation project will have a profound effect on the Virginia economy and the quality of life of so many Virginians who battle congestion everyday.
I am committed to working with FTA, the Governor and the Airport Authority, the members of the Virginia delegation, with the leadership of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties and with the Northern Virginia business community in order to advance this project into construction."
Though of course Bill Coleman is going to say that, dude gets paid $$$ from Westgroup to lobby for them.
*The county will blame the state
*The state will blame the Feds
*The Congressmen and Senators will blame each other (and the FTA)
*Everyone will blame TysonsTunnel.org
Etc., etc.