Airports Authority collecting public opinion, but will it be enough to control rising Dulles Toll Road rates?
Citizens came to South Lakes High School in Reston Wednesday night to talk about tolls and there were plenty of people there from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) there to listen.
MWAA CEO Jack Potter speaking with Dick Rogers, RCA Board and Reston 2020 member, at the RCA Reston 2020 display outside South Lakes High School.
Wednesday night's event was the second of three public meetings organized by the group that oversees the Dulles Toll Road and the construction of the Metrorail's Silver Line.
But will public opinion be enough to slow the rise in toll road rates?
Under the toll rate proposal, the combined main plaza and ramp tolls, currently $2.25 for 2-axle vehicles, would increase to $2.75 in 2013, $3.50 in 2014 and $4.50 in 2015 in order to help fund the construction of the Silver Line Phase 2.
Advocacy group Reston2020 predicts tolls for area motorists will be $6.75 (in 2018). However, MWAA CEO Jack Potter says not so fast—through targeted government lobbying and finding alternate funding solutions, MWAA may be able to put the brakes on rising tolls and still get Phase 2 from Wiehle Avenue to Loudoun County built. . . .Click here for the rest of this article.
I will only add that, in a conversation with Jack Potter at the South Lakes open house (it was not a "public hearing"), he said he hopes 10,000 people comment in opposition to the increased tolls. He said he wants to use those comments as ammunition when MWAA, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties file for low-rate federal TIFIA financing later this year.
I strongly encourage all Reston 2020 blog readers to file a comment with MWAA. You can do so at this link: http://www.mwaa.com/net/dtr_toll.aspx
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