Dulles Rail triggers more, not less, traffic congestion, Fairfax Times, July 27, 2012

The following is the bulk of a letter by Rob Jackson, former President of the McLean Citizens Association (which has been a leader in citizen involvement in the re-planning of Tysons Corner) and now Vice President of the Fairfax County Federation of Civic Associations. 

This letter is a must read for Restonians and all Dulles Corridor residents.  The issues that apply in Tysons apply to all of us--and maybe more so. 

It’s another election year — one where we regularly are “treated” to a variety of opinion peices touting one candidate or another.

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Dist. 11) recently offered his views on the relative merits of Tim Kaine (D) versus George Allen (R) on transportation. I won’t touch that one. But I must address Connolly’s argument that Dulles rail helps our horrible traffic congestion.

Dulles rail doesn’t remedy traffic congestion and, indeed, triggers more development that, in turn, increases traffic congestion and causes a need for more road and non-rail transit improvements that will cost taxpayers billions of dollars more. . .

. . . The additional traffic occurs despite the arrival of Dulles rail; the construction of high-quality, mixed-use development at the four Tysons rail stations; the imposition of extremely aggressive Traffic Demand Management measures by the county and Tysons landowners to reduce volumes; and the availability of substantially more bus service serving Tysons. Yet, after 2030, the road network serving Tysons fails because of more automobiles and trucks. Therefore, between 2030 and 2051 — the end of the planning horizon — every new automobile trip to Tysons must be canceled by a new transit or pedestrian trip.

Fairfax County has estimated the costs for the additional road and bus transit needed to handle Tysons’ growth through 2051 to be $3.04 billion, excluding inflation and interest on bonds sold to help finance the transportation improvements. Also excluded are the costs for two additional heavy rail lines that would be needed to supplement Dulles rail. With inflation, the $3 billion reaches $5.46 billion, according to the county. . .

. . . To put things in perspective, raising $5.46 billon requires state and local government to set aside more than $2 million each and every single week between today and 2051. So whether we live near or far from Tysons, each of us residing in Fairfax County likely has a heavy tax bill to pay to handle the added automobile traffic triggered by Dulles rail.

Robert H. Jackson, McLean

Click here to read the complete letter.  It is compelling and frightening!