67th HOD: Candidates Answers on Metro

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

Cliff Keirce in the news!

Terrific article on Cliff in the Ashburn Patch. My favorite part?

Keirce sees Metro’s extension into Loudoun as a pivotal hook to bring new businesses to the area, and he fully supports the project.

“I’m 100 percent certain it will be completed,” he said. “It’s important not only to the region but to the federal government.”

In a recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Keirce learned that while Phase 2 does not have any federal funding currently, Sec. LaHood promised that the federal government would assist in some way with Phase 2 – likely through low-interest federal loans.

Go read it all.

BOS Dulles: Candidates Answers on Metro (UPDATED)

[Updated because Matt Letourneau asked me to fix a typo]


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.

BOS Broad Run: Candidates Answers on Metro

I have answers from all three candidates for the Board of Supervisors Sterling seat so I'm posting them here for your convenience:

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.

BOS Sterling: Candidates answers on Metro

I have answers from all three candidates for the Board of Supervisors Sterling seat so I'm posting them here for your convenience:

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 HOD: Candidates answers on Metro

I have responses from both candidates in the 10th HOD race, so I'm posting them here together.

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

Candidates are answering the question

You can read the answers on the Metro page. I apologize for the unattractive appearance of that page. I'll work on making it look better later.

So far I have answers from:

• Malcolm Baldwin (BOS Catoctin)
• Tom Bellanca (BOS Chair)
• Shaun Broy (27th Sen)
• Jim Burton (BOS Blue Ridge)
• Dave Butler (10th HOD)
• Pamela Danner (34th HOD)
• Eugene Delgaudio (Sterling)
• Cliff Keirce (BOS Broad Run)
• Mike Kondratick (87th HOD)
• Donald Marro (27th Sen)
• Andrea McGimsey (BOS Broad Run)
• Randy Minchew (10th HOD)
• Ali Shahriari (BOS Sterling)

Thank you to all who have responded and also to the several who have told me that they will respond.

Where Do You Stand on Metro to Loudoun

An open letter to Board of Supervisors and State Candidates:

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.

PAY ATTENTION

Metro to Loudoun's fate will be decided by the Board of Supervisor that we are electing this November 8th. Because the change to the (less expensive) site at Dulles Airport means doing new site plans, which won't be done until January at the earliest.

This means that it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ask the candidates where they stand on metro.

The League of Women's Voters won't be doing debates this year so it is UP TO YOU to get answers to your questions directly from the candidates.

Each of them has a website, use it to contact them and find out where they stand on Metro.

This is the single most important decision the next BOS will make. Make sure you know where the candidates stand.