Citing the difficulty in obtaining flexibility for the Metro extension to Tysons Corner, Congressman Frank Wolf announced Tuesday night that he won+óGé¼Gäót use his seniority to keep federal funding for the extension if it+óGé¼Gäós in tunnel form. Wolf basically admitted Tuesday that he either 1) doesn+óGé¼Gäót have the skills necessary to gain flexibility for a tunnel approach to the Metro extension, or 2) doesn+óGé¼Gäót really care enough to make a solid try of it. In other words, Wolf's essentially saying, "My job is too hard." No wonder why Wolf's tenure in Congress is being seriously challenged by health care expert and Georgetown University Dean Judy Feder.
"I've done everything I can,+óGé¼-¥ Wolf said, according to the Washington Post.
In saying that, Wolf may have inadvertently summed up the reason so many people are excited by Feder and her ability to make progress the problems that most Northern Virginia Republicans only pay lip service to.
But what+óGé¼Gäós the difference, one might ask, between a tunnel and above ground tracks?
+óGé¼+ôSupporters say the extra cost would be worth it in the long run because it would better promote the hoped-for transformation of Tysons into a walkable urban center,+óGé¼-¥ says the Post. In other words, through this project we can achieve traffic improvement through two environmentally friendly means - mass transit and "smart growth." Regarding "smart growth," Metro under Tysons is being touted as a way to reduce local traffic congestion by creating a community where people don+óGé¼Gäót have to drive everywhere. Sure seems like a win-win to me.
Wolf also pointed out what so many of us have learned the last 5 years: if you want something done, and done right, you+óGé¼Gäóll have to ask the Democrats in charge of Virginia+óGé¼Gäós government.
From the Post article:
Asked by an audience member whether he could help get some +óGé¼-£flexibility+óGé¼Gäó in the federal transit rules on the tunnel's behalf, Wolf said there was nothing he could do. It is up to state officials to decide whether to go with the tunnel, he said.+óGé¼-£Now it's going to be between [Virginia Transportation Secretary] Pierce Homer and the state and the FTA,+óGé¼Gäó he said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701328.html