Dulles Rail: Why is Everybody Always Picking on Me?
The Reston phase of the Dulles Toll Road
The Dulles Rail project just can’t seem to win for losing. In 2007, two Fairfax County residents filed a lawsuit challenging the planned handoff of the Dulles Toll Road to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as a means of funding the Rail extension. Although the case was originally dismissed in Richmond circuit court last year, the plaintiffs appealed and the case has since been remanded to the lower courts for a finding on the merits. You can click here for the Dulles Easterner article describing the case.
I know that not everyone is in favor of the Dulles Rail project; I don’t understand it, but I am aware that opposition exists. But I have to say that even if I weren’t going to use the Rail myself, I would gladly have my toll funds used to pay for it in order to lighten traffic on the Toll Road. I rarely am on the road during rush hour, but the times that I have been and have paid close to $4 to use the Greenway and then another $.50 to use the Toll Road, I have been pretty ticked off to still be sitting in traffic. If you have to pay for the privilege of using a convenient road, why not have those funds dedicated to removing more traffic from out of your way? But maybe that’s just me.
What do you think? If you use the Toll Road, how do you feel about your “donation” being used to partially fund the Rail extension?
jaime said:
Sounds like a win/win to help develop the light rail service. Given energy costs, the future is with a refurbished transit system in most major metropolitan areas. Frisco is buying up old trolley cars nationwide to reduce emissions and costs. Others are hesitant to jump on the rail option, but will do so as our gas gets up toward $8 per gallon. Why wait?
July 2, 2008 3:04 PM
Kira said:
Agreed. It’s ridiculous that it’s not a no-brainer by this point. The DC area is a very expensive area in which to live and it’s ludicrous to think that everyone who works in or near DC can afford to (or wants to!) live nearby.
July 15, 2008 3:36 PM