Reston Spring

Reston Spring
Reston Spring

Monday, April 12, 2010

For Board of Supervisors, long-term plans offer challenge, Fairfax Times, March 30, 2010

The following is an extract from a March 30 Fairfax Times article on Fairfax County Metrorail financing. While we have not focused much attention on financial issues in redeveloping Reston, building and maintaining the Metrorail will be a tax drain on local businesses, and maybe ultimately residents.

There are additional expenditures pending related to the so-called "Silver Line," the new 23-mile Metrorail line that will add eight transit stations to the county by 2016.

The county will be obligated to fund another $120 million for the second phase of the project, money which officials have not yet determined how to generate. The remainder of the county's share of the rail construction costs will be paid for via business tax districts.

Wales favors using the county's commercial and industrial tax revenues, which can be used solely for transportation projects, to close the gap. However, supervisors were also informed in February that pool of money is obligated for projects through fiscal 2016.

In addition, Fairfax County will need to begin paying increased operation and maintenance fees into the Metro system once the first five stations open in late 2013, Wales said.

In an unrelated obligation, Fairfax County voters will also likely be asked to vote on a bond referendum this fall that will support the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's capital improvement program. The county is obligated to help finance the projects as part of the regional compact governing the Metro system.

The so-called "Metro Matters" bond program will cost the county about $120 million, Wales said.


The rest of this article is here.

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