Dulles Corridor Predicted to See Success with Rail

Stuart Mendelsohn, who served for eight years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, stressed the importance of business owners being involved in the planning of Metro and redevelopment in the Dulles Corridor on Thursday.

Mendelsohn, speaking at The Syndicate executive men's networking event at Volkswagen, said when he first moved to Northern Virginia there was nothing in the Dulles Corridor except the Reston International Center. He said at the time no one predicted the growth the area has had over the last few decades.

Mendelsohn said in 1975 Fairfax County had plans for many more roads than there are currently but didn't think the population would support the infrastructure. He said it turned out the original 1975 prediction for the population of the area was only 2 percent off the mark in 2000.

Northern Virginia has been known as a business friendly place for some time now and Mendelsohn said it is because of the Dulles International Airport and the quality of the local schools. "We have a huge advantage because of the Dulles Airport," he said.

Mendelsohn said when he was on the Tysons task force to help plan land use in the area the then Fairfax County board of supervisors told the planners that it was too much development and they didn't think it would happen. He said as a result the Tysons area doesn't have the road infrastructure it needs.

"Planning is important. If there's one takeaway from tonight—you need to pay attention and you need to get involved," Mendelsohn said. He said what causes trouble in land-use planning and development is when local business doesn't get involved in the planning process.

Mendelsohn said what is happening in Northern Virginia is unique because no one has ever had to re-plan an area as large as Tysons that is already fully developed. He said without the involvement and support of area businesses it is possible the development plans could get watered down.

Mendelsohn also answered questions from the audience. Dan Flavin of Griffin-Owens in Herndon asked if it was true that Phase II of the Rail to Dulles project was going to cost millions more than expected.

Mendelsohn said though it's true that the project will be more costly than expected costs can be saved if the rail station at the Dulles Airport is moved. He said the original plans assumed the station would go directly to the terminal, but that would require two miles of expensive tunneling. He said if the station were instead placed near the parking garages, 600 feet from the terminal, it could save the project hundreds of millions.

While many have complained that the Silver Line, as Rail to Dulles is to be known, and the station would see much less traffic because of it, Mendelsohn disagreed. "Rail is really there to get the employees there. Six-hundred feet really isn't going to stop the employees from using it," he said. He said often fewer travelers use the rail to get to the airport than airport employees.

Mendelsohn said although the Metro does have issues with cost and upkeep of the system he believes rail can still be successful in the Dulles Corridor. He said the ridership for the system will be there to support it, although the day he is waiting for is when Loudoun County has to sign the Metro Compact. "They're in for an eye opener. Those two stations are going to cost dearly," he said.

Mendelsohn now practices real estate, land use, litigation, government affairs and corporate law. In addition to serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors he also served for two years as chairman of the Fairfax County School Board.