People have been asking me if I know where each of you stands on Metro to Loudoun. Since the decision about whether to go forward with the project will rest with the next board and the next legislature, it's important to know what your position is on what could be the most important decision of the next four years.
I will create a page like the one I have with Campaign Websites, listing every candidate with his or her completely unedited answer to this one question:
Where Do You Stand On Metro?
The text of this post will be sent to each campaign, and as each answer arrives, I will post it.
Board of Supervisors
- Chair (At-Large)
- Tom Bellanca (D)
I've been a strong supporter of Rail To Dulles and Loudoun for almost 15 years now. I first began involvement in the issue when an office building I managed along Rt. 7 sold and the new owners questioned if there would eventually be rail. In 2001, I spoke before the Fairfax County Planning Commission in support of Rail to Dulles and the necessary zoning changes that would be required near the metro stations to allow for residential, transit oriented development. I made Federal funding for Rail to Dulles a central focus of my Congressional nomination campaign in 2000. Rep. Tom Davis at the time didn't publicly support rail. I lost the nomination but the Democratic candidate took my issue and made it central to his campaign which eventually led Rep. Tom Davis to support rail publicly. Tom Davis and Frank Wolf supported a policy that local transportation projects were pork barrel and proceeded to push more transportation funding off on localities. This is why the original 80% federal funding formula was eventually reduced to 50% and then further during the Dulles Rail project. This means that a larger percentage of the project is being paid directly out of our property taxes. Due to the underwriting standards (it doesn't factor into the equation future residential development or airport traffic), Phase II didn't receive any federal funding. In order to save the project, regional policymakers pushed it further on the localities and transferred it to MWAA and planned to fund it through a combination of tolls, tax districts and local property taxes. I maintain that the Federal Government should be paying a higher percentage of this project. Their current funding commitment amounts to about 17% when other similar projects nationwide are receiving closer to 30%. During the dispute about the Airport stop, rather than pay the $24.5 million additional for the underground option, Loudoun County opted to take on the responsibility to build the two garages for $135 million. This change could potentially further burden Loudoun County property taxes if a private developer doesn't take on the full responsibility to build and run the garages. Further, if the garages are built and then they fail to perform financially, someone else will have to take on the responsibility. This puts additional risk and pressure on local property taxes and may end up being a worse decision than supporting the underground station for only $24.5 million more. Either way, I believe having two rail stops in Loudoun will far outweigh the subsidized cost of such rail. The economic benefits to both the Northern Virginia and State economies will far outweigh the costs. Additionally, there will be other benefits such as reducing traffic along the Rt. 28 connector roads as more people will take rail and take traffic off 50, 606, Waxpool and 7.
The current tax base in Loudoun is above $50 billion. If the value of this base increases by 10% over the first few years rail is open, we've just added an additional $5 billion in value to our property owners (including homeowners) as well as the associated tax revenue for the county. It will also spur more transit oriented development in Loudoun which will additionally add to the commercial tax base. I'm committing to grow the commercial tax base from 19% where it is now to 24.5% in four years. 24.5% is closer to the commercial portion of the tax base in Fairfax and is realistic for Loudoun.
I originally supported implementing a higher technology for this rail project like the maglev trains that many countries are building such as in Shanghai. Policy makers who made the decision wanted a seamless connection with the existing rail and I certainly understand the merits of this decision. I also am a large supporter of air rights development for this project, which I advocated in 2004.
In the big scheme of things, the benefits of Rail to Dulles far outweigh any negatives associated with it. I don't like that this project is being paid for in part by tolls, and we must continue to look for other funding sources so that tolls stay affordable. I believe it is worse to transfer these costs onto an already overburdened property tax base than for it to be paid by tolls so other solutions must be found and implemented appropriately.
I hope this explains my position clearly. - Scott York (R)
- Algonkian
- Ashburn
- Ralph Buona (R)
- Valdis Ronis (D)
Do I support Metro coming to Loudoun? Absolutely! Short term, the Metro Silver Line project will create hundreds if not thousands of construction-related jobs. Long term, it’s likely to create a similar number of operations and maintenance jobs. Metro will be an economic development engine for Loudoun. Land values will increase substantially along the rail corridor and help stimulate commercial development. The real question is whether or not our elected officials will have the vision and political will to maximize the benefits offered by Metro. For instance, we have an opportunity to encourage compact, walkable, higher density, interconnected Transit Oriented Development (TOD) within the rail corridor, especially near the stations, and design these developments with multi-modal (rail, car, bus, bicycle, and pedestrian) transportation linkages in mind. Metro will provide us another much needed east-west transportation option and with the right incentives, a viable alternative to single occupant vehicles. Metro can also reduce commuter traffic on the Dulles Tollway, Route 7, and Route 606. Although I continue to have concerns about the cost of the project, particularly the construction phase, these concerns are being addressed and can and will be mitigated as we move forward.
Valdis G. Ronis, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP - Blue Ridge
- Jim Burton (I)
I believe that bringing Metrorail to Loudoun will provide great benefits to our residents, both from a transportation perspective and an economic development perspective. I remain open-minded on whether or not Loudoun should participate in the program, however. I have serious concerns about the proposed financing scheme and am skeptical that it will actually work. Uncertainty on the availability of Federal loans and possible $13 one-way tolls on the Toll Road give me serious concern. The program is still evolving and I will keep an open mind until the final product is presented for a vote.
Best regards,
Jim
- Janet Clark (R)
- Broad Run
- Cliff Keirce (I)
Thanks for the question.
I have not put anything about this on the website as I was of the understanding that the issue would be resolved prior to the next Board of Supervisors being seated. However, I'm happy to share with you my opinion on the issue. I have attended several meetings about the Dulles Rail project over the years, as an interested citizen, Planning Commissioner, and as a Board of Supervisor candidate.
I think the Dulles rail into Loudoun is critical for the future of the county's economic health. Many large projects (Moorefield Station, Loudoun Station) were approved years ago, but will not reach their full development plans without the rail. I have also seen several projects as Planning Commissioner that will depend heavily on the Metro extension (Dulles World, Kincora, Dulles Town Center) and there are others in the planning stages (Loudoun Center/Loudoun Metro). Without the commercial tax dollars these projects will bring to the county, our dependence on residential property taxes to pay the bills will only worsen.
All that being said, the project needs to be completed at a reasonable cost. I was one of the few who sounded the alarm when the extension of the Metro Rail to Loudoun County was handed over to MWAA to complete. This also gave them control over the Rte 267 Toll Road. One would have thought with the Greenway problems the state would have learned it's lesson in letting an unelected body have control over large scale road/transportation projects.
There are significant proposed cost overruns to complete this project. One of the biggest issues was whether the airport station should be above or below ground. I am glad to see MWAA has agreed to help bring costs back to the original estimate, by building the the station above ground. I know that MWAA had always planned for an underground station, but it never should have been considered if it was going to be a billion dollars over budget. They have also neglected to look at all the benefits to an above ground station.
Other cost saving measures that can be accomplished are privatizing the parking garages instead of having to pay to build them and hand them over to the Metro Authority to collect the revenues, and phasing the rail yard construction.
Additional contributions from the federal government and the state should also be pursued.
Those have been my positions for a while now. I am glad to see there were some recent changes agreed to a few weeks ago. MWAA has agreed to an above ground station. I believe Virginia has agreed to add an additional $150 million to the cost of the project. There is some movement looking at privatizing the parking garages.
Feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss this further or if I haven't answered your question to your satisfaction.
Cliff Keirce - Andrea McGimsey (D)
"Andrea is leading the effort to complete road improvements and create more transportation options that will reduce traffic. She is fighting to ensure the Metro is extended into Loudoun and to increase the number of bus routes." - Shawn Williams (R)
I believe bringing metrorail to Loudoun is essential to take our county to the 'next level.' We need to attract businesses to defer our high residential tax base and metrorail will be a key component to this process. However, the project must be completed in a fiscally responsible manner. I was very pleased the the underground station at Dulles airport was scrapped in favor of the less expensive above ground station. Chairman York, who I look forward to continuing to work with on this issue, deserves credit for delivering real cost savings to Loudoun taxpayers. The project must continue with specific budgetary performance goals because if the costs spiral out of control the project is in danger of getting canceled. - Catoctin
- Malcolm Baldwin (D)
I’m happy to respond to your question regarding where I stand on Metro to Loudoun.
I’m on record in my website and in my responses to questionnaires from various organizations (Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, Dulles Area Association of REALTORS, Voters for Loudoun’s Future) as strongly supporting the Metro extension and the above ground option at Dulles Airport that has now been accepted.
Metro for Loudoun must be embraced as part of a comprehensive transportation and land use strategy for the county.
As I have stated many times, we should focus our transportation priorities on the needs of Loudoun citizens first, on our east-west traffic problems, ,on reducing congestion at the most critical choke points throughout the county, and on maximizing use of future Metro stations.
It is a fact that we shall have considerable population growth in Loudoun over the next few decades. We can either let it happen and suffer the costs of sprawl or we can manage it sensibly. One sensible course is to establish cost-effective development around Loudoun’s future Metro stations. These stations offer us a way to accomplish at the outset what Fairfax now undertakes at Tyson’s Corner, forty years after its poorly-planned commercial development. Density transfer tools are useful to employ where the Comprehensive Plan fails to help channel growth to areas where infrastructure and facilities can support it and/or where the CP fails to protect rural areas from costly residential sprawl. With our existing 40,000 houses authorized by right in the county, largely in the rural parts of the county, the Board should encourage use of density transfers by developers from these parts to development around the new Metro stations.
Real economics – consideration of all costs and benefits – makes a Metro for Loudoun a no-brainer. The horror stories about unrealistic Greenway tolls of $20 belie the fact that such tolls would discourage commuter use to the point of making it highly unprofitable, and will not be enacted. We should establish graduated tolls for the Greenway. And we should support park-and-ride bus systems to feed our new Metro stations.
Thanks for your concern about Loudoun's future,
Best regards,
Malcolm F. Baldwin - Geary Higgins (R)
- Dulles
- Matt Letourneau (R)
Liz,
At long last my blog entry is up on my site:
http://matt2011.com/home/index.php?option=com_lyftenbloggie&view=entry&year=2011&month=09&day=14&id=7%3Awhere-i-stand-on-metro&Itemid=214
Its rather long, so you may not want to post the whole thing on your site. However, if you wish to, you have my permission to do so. - Larry Roeder (D)
I definitely am in favor of the METRO project, which is certain to bring jobs to Loudoun, help our commerce bottom line and enhance e-w commuters. What horrifies me is that this project has taken so long and that some Supervisors like Mr. Delgaudio are fighting it. Like everyone, I want the price tag to be realistic; but not on the backs of working men and women from the Unions. The Republican Party in Loudoun, Richmond and Washington is trying to break the Unions, making a war on the Middle Class. We can’t allow them to win. As a full-time Supervisor, I will draw on my over 35 years experience in economic-development (my opponent has none) to advance the Metro project with all stakeholders every day, and also engage progressive investors. Please support all Democratic Candidates for Supervisor and make a $100 contribution today using ACTBLUE. - Leesburg
- Sterling
- Eugene Delgaudio (R)
Dear Liz Miller
Thanks for writing. The topic of metro is important to many people.
I have made many statements regarding metro and they are below and I am opposed to it as I prefer a more flexible and far cheaper system of buses.
ENTIRE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT STANDS WITH DELGAUDIO NOW ON RECKLESS METRO SPENDING
http://joineugene.com/news/article.php?article=6838
Government Is Spending Without Limits
http://joineugene.com/news/article.php?article=6714
I give permission to quote the posted statements or simply to link to them is okay with me. - Al Nevarez (D)
We need to complete the second phase of the Dulles Metro project as quickly and in as cost-effective a manner as possible. Sterling has a lot of commuters; speaking as one of them, I can assure you we’re anxious to see the Metro expanded into Loudoun County. As a Loudoun taxpayer, I’m excited about the Metro bringing a whole new source of tourist and retail revenue into the area. And as a resident and driver, I’m looking forward to the reduction in traffic that will come with public transportation options taking cars off the road.
I am absolutely in support of the Metro. - L. Ali Shahriari (I)
I must first reaffirm my commitment to citizen participation in this and in all matters that affect the people of Loudoun. The residents of Loudoun should be those who make the ultimate decisions regarding metro expansion with the BOS only implementing the people's wishes. Nonetheless, I will give my personal opinion on this issue.
I declare my full support of the extension of metro rail to Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County. Rail service is an efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to automobile transportation. Metro Rail is urgently needed and long overdue for the Dulles Corridor area. As the population in Loudoun and the surrounding area increases, the demand for accessible transportation to the Washington Metro Area and vice versa is undeniable.
I will address four key issues that I believe are important in this debate:
Firstly; the airlines and companies that make use of Dulles Airport (IAD) should contribute in some form or another towards metro expansion. This could be through mandatory or voluntary contribution.
Secondly; if parking garages are financed by the county, they should be operated by the county and the revenue generated should go towards county financed design and building costs.
Thirdly; a toll structure based on car occupancy should be taken into consideration. This would encourage use of public transit and personal responsibility among travelers. Regardless, future tolls should be decided by the people.
Fourthly; project costs, labor agreements, and construction contracts must be transparent and reasonable. All project related expenditures should be audited by an independent or citizen led committee. Local companies should be utilized to provide construction services and laborers should be from the local area.
Again, although I personally support the expansion of metro into Loudoun, I believe this issue, like all issues, is for the people to decide on and for the BOS to act upon only with popular support.
-Ali
- 10th District
- Dave Butler (D)
I am, and always have been, a strong supporter of Metro to Loudoun. Public transportation reduces traffic on the roads and is almost certainly a less stressfull way to commute. I think it's an abolutely essential step in Loudoun's 21st century transportation infrastructure. As a Loudoun resident, I would be appalled if the next BoS does not support Metro to Loudoun, and as a member of the General Assembly, I would push for a more active role by the state in providing potential funding support.
Dave
- Randy Minchew (R)
I believe that the extension of Metro-integrated rail service to the primary airport serving the capital of the Free World should become a reality.
This rail extension was envisioned back during the Eisenhower Administration when Dulles Airport was sited and designed and, given that we can now actually see the Phase I portion of Dulles Rail being constructed to Reston, I believe that this project should be completed to the Rt. 772 rail station in Loudoun County as planned with an above-ground station serving the Saarinen Terminal at Dulles Airport. While I fully understand and appreciate the grave concerns that many leaders have with the high capital needs projections of Phase II, the harmful cost-increase attributes of having Project Labor Agreements and Davis-Bacon Act mandates as a part of this project, and MWAA's poor leadership and oversight over Phase II, I do not think that a termination of the Dulles Rail project at Reston is an acceptable conclusion.
That being said, based on the information I have now, I would not support legislation suggested by MWAA increasing Virginia's contribution to the Phase II project by $150 Million and do not take kindly to MWAA's veiled threat of increasing Dulles Airport Access Road tolls if this enhanced funding is not made available.
Thank you for e-mail.
Best Regards,
Randy - 32nd District
- 33rd District
- 34th District
- Barbara Comstock (R)
- Pam Beck Danner (D)
Rail out to Ryan Road in Loudoun is a very important investment we need to make. As I've been knocking on doors in Sterling and Potomac Falls, I've learned about the transportation challenges that exist for the residents of Loudoun County and the lack of public transit. The federal and state government should both share the financial burden for this project, but I believe that we shouldn't follow the short-sighted advice of Attorney General Cuccinelli and all together stop Phase Two of the rail project. - 67th District
- Eric Clingan (D)
Completing the Silver Line and extending Metro to Loudoun is one of my top transportation priorities. Dulles Airport is the gateway to the world for our nation's capital and it should be served by a first rate public transportation system.
My District, which is comprised of parts of Chantilly, Oakton, Herndon, South Riding and Centreville, also desperately needs higher quality public transportation options. I strongly support the extension of the Orange Line to Centreville and Chantilly.
Northern Virginia commuters spend more time in traffic every year. Every minute spent in traffic is a minute of potential economic productivity wasted. We need multi-modal solutions to our region's transportation woes to get people out of traffic and into work.
- Jim LeMunyon (R)
Elizabeth,
Delegate LeMunyon is out of town today attending a funeral. He was quoted today in the Loudoun Times-Mirror on this very subject. I’ve copied and pasted his quote, specific to providing additional funding for Metro rail to Dulles, below. The entire article can be found here: http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/state_house_of_delegate_candidates_face_off_at_chamber_event898/
But LeMunyon stood somewhere in the middle on his position for additional funding.
“In a word, I’ll say maybe and I’ll explain why,” he said.
“We need to rank projects based on what will give us the biggest bang for the buck based on congestion reduction and spend a lion’s share of transportation dollars funding those projects,” LeMunyon continued. “If Dulles Rail is high on the list then the state needs to step up and fund it.”
If you need more information, please let me know.
Best regards,
Christen Smith
Legislative Aide
Delegate Jim LeMunyon
- 86th District
- Tom Rust (R)
Liz,
I continue to support Metro to Route 772 in Loudoun. The decision will not rest with the legislature; it will rest with MWAA, METRO, and local governments. The legislature is not involved in this decision but is involved in the funding.
Best regards,
Thomas Davis Rust
Virginia House of Delegates, 86th District
- 87th District
- Mike Kondratick (D)
I support metro to Loudoun. The cost-cutting measures recently introduced, that bring phase 2's total bill back within original projections, enhance the project's overall economic benefits. I am concerned with toll road users essentially providing all of the state's contribution to phase 2, however. The state needs to consider devoting something in the range of an additional $150M to the project to reduce the pressure for future toll increases.
Mike K. - David Ramadan (R)
- 13th District
- Dick Black (R)
- Shawn Mitchell (D)
"I fully support extending metro into Ashburn. It is vital to the future economic development of Loudoun County and the entire Northern Virginia region. I believe we need to keep the costs in check for the project and as Senator, I will fight for state funding of this project so that it isn't all funded on the backs of local residents." - Shawn Mitchell
- 27th District
- Shaun Broy (D)
Where do I stand on Metro?
It makes good common sense to reduce gridlock and provide a rail solution to not just the citizens of Loudoun, but to those who could communte to Loudoun and then use the metro to connect them to the D.C. metro area. So... YES... I AM FOR METRO TO LOUDOUN!
Best,
Shaun
- Donald Marro (I)
I'm in favor of getting cars off roads, getting people out of cars, and building fewer roads. I'm in favor of public works for the ages. I'm in favor of ridiculing those who think cheap is durable, practical or appropriate for a culture that wishes to celebrate itself, attract the best and brightest, the most innovative or the least crass. I'm in favor of wringing the best price out of public works firms, but paying for what lasts and is most efficient and awe-inspiring.
I support Metro to Loudoun, an underground station at Dulles, and the search for a reincarnation of Robert Moses so those who prefer cheap and uninspired can experience the ghost of Christmas past and promptly have an epiphany that forces them to correct the folly of their ways.
- Jill Holtzman Vogel (R)
- 31st District
- Barbara Favola (D)
Liz, I strongly support metro to Loudoun and will fight to get State and Federal dollars to help fund the implementation of Phase II. I look forward to working collaboratively with all interested parties to accomplish this important goal.
- Caren Merrick (R)
- 33rd District
