Wednesday, October 17, 2012
One reader makes the case that MWAA simply insulates elected officials from angry constituents.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012
To the Editor: Most people have heard of the endless problems with MWAA (the guys in charge of Metro’s Silver Line construction) and their reckless spending. Still, our state and local governments keep ignoring their bad reputation when it comes to their management of the Silver Line construction. Loudoun and Virginia are handing over our taxes and tolls knowing MWAA has no incentive for efficiency. They answer to no one, at any level of government. If you want to know where the wasted billions go look at the names of companies on the campaign contributions of those who push this crony-driven spendfest. I expect you'll see the lobbyists, the contractors and the developers making hefty investments in the campaign accounts of these …
Monday, October 8, 2012
Remembering Herndon's History remembers Herndon's first Metro.
A 100-year-old newspaper article provides a glimpse back at the origins of Herndon’s 21st century reality. At the Herndon Depot Museum there is a 100-year-old copy of The Observer newspaper, dated October 12, 1912. (The Observer name of 1912 was the inspiration for the name of the more recent Herndon Observer newspaper that served Herndon from 1976 until 2010.) The headline on a front-page article read, “Electric Cars In Operation - New Schedule Convenient and Satisfactory—Some Operating Troubles—Changes in Mail Service.” With Metro opening at the Wiehle Avenue station in 2013 and scheduled to reach Herndon and beyond in 2017-18, this document gives new meaning to the old saying, “History repeats itself,” and the more recent expression, “…
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Advisory group to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will discuss proposed rate increases, financing
As questions over Dulles toll increases and Silver Line funding continue, the Dulles Corridor Advisory Committee — which advises the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on the Dulles Corridor — is preparing to give its own opinion on the issues. The group will meet at 11 a.m. Oct. 5 in Herndon to hear updates about finance and construction of the Silver Line metrorail project, and also make recommendations on proposed toll rate hikes. The committee, formed in 2007, has eight members: two each from Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the airports authority. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova is serving as chair of the committee; County Executive Ed Long also serves on the committee. …
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Extreme heat prompts transit authority to again make exemption to its no-drinking policy. The Fairfax Connector is allowing water through Saturday.
- SUMMER
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
Thanks to the ongoing heat wave, Metro is again allowing passengers to carry and consume bottled water on trains, buses and access vehicles through the close of the system Sunday night. The exception to the transit authority's no-drinking policy applies to water only, Metro said in a news release. This is the second time in as many weeks that extreme heat has caused Metro to allow bottled water into the system. The Fairfax Connector is doing the same. They're allowing passengers to carry and drink water through closing on Saturday. The exception applies only to water. Connector is encouraging passengers to use water containers that can be tightly secured and use trash and recycling bins to dispose of water bottles and waste.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
After contentious four months, a divided board stays with the project.
With more eyes on Loudoun County than likely have ever been on it, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 on Tuesday to continue participating with the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, which will extend the now-under-construction Silver Line from Wiehle Avenue in Reston to Route 772 in Ashburn. “Well the day has finally come for this board to make the decision about the future of Loudoun County,” County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) said as the vote approached. “This will help our employers reach our employees regionally.” York and Supervisors Ken Reid (R-Leesburg), Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn), Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Shawn Williams (R-Broad Run) voted in supported, while Supervisors Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian), Geary …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
'Rush Plus' expands service during rush hour
Metro rolled out its new rush hour program, "Rush Plus," on Monday during rush hour on the Green, Yellow, Blue and Orange lines. For those who use the Blue and Orange Lines, the changes will mean more frequent trains for Orange Line riders and longer waits for Blue Line customers. Rush Plus "is designed to ease crowding, improve the commuting experience for Metrorail riders on the Orange, Blue, Green and Yellow lines, and prepare for the future Silver Line," according to the metro press release about the changes. Expanded service will result in 18 new Orange Line trains during rush hour. The increased service will impact 21 stations, to include Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn. Though the same number of trains will travel through Foggy Bottom and …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
According to an article on WTOP, members of the Board of Supervisors have shown mixed reactions regarding the report.
A recent analysis shows that Loudoun County could suffer a $72.2 billion economic blow without the second phase of the Silver Line, according to an article on WTOP. George Mason's Director for the Center for Regional Analysis Stephen Fuller said he has studied the impact of the subway line and concluded that the second phase is needed for the local area. It would provide subway services from Reston to Dulles International Airport, he said, and into Loudoun County. It would also bring 40,000 professional and business-service jobs to the local area. Without it, Fuller said his report shows that the county would lose $72.2 billion between 2020 and 2030 alone. However, some members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors say they aren't …
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Supervisors who question rail project are pondering a question some thought was answered long ago.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Stakeholders in the rail to Dulles project met Friday.
Stakeholders in the rail to Dulles Airport project met Friday morning for the second time this week to negotiate how to cut Phase 2 of the project's $3.5 billion price tag. The three funding partners of the rail project—Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Fairfax County and Loudoun County—have less than 30 days to have a financial plan back to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who met with the stakeholders on Thursday. LaHood told the three parties that he wanted them to work together to cut the cost of the second phase. LaHood came in as a mediator as friction grew after MWAA’s controversial decision in April to spend $330 million more for an underground station at Dulles Airport, instead of a cheaper above-ground …
No Toll Increase
12:50 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Mr. Harris is correct that MWAA is just a convenient straw man for politicians to attack. The Virginia Legislature needs to hear from us telling them to take responsibility and take the MWAA middle-man out of the picture. Costs to Dulles Toll Road users could be cut in half just by cutting MWAA out. More info on this at www.noTOLLincrease.org more ›