LTE: The Time is Right for Rail to Ashburn
The writer focuses on economic development benefits, experience in Europe.
As a long-time resident and small business owner here in Loudoun County, I have been watching the ongoing debate and doing my research. Having lived in Europe where I relied on public transportation, I know first-hand how important this can be to a community. My conclusion is that Loudoun County needs the Silver Line extension and we need it now.
As a frequent commuter and mother running three children all over, I see the real need for more commuting options for our families. As the studies indicate, cars will come off the roads and time will be saved for busy parents rushing to get home to the many evening activities we all have.
This great transportation project will also have the very real benefit of being a significant economic development driver. Two studies conducted by very reputable organizations both conclude that this will be a critical factor in Loudoun County’s economic expansion and bring high-paying quality jobs and companies to Loudoun County instead of us being just a bedroom community exporting our residents to other locations.
It is unfortunate that a very small group of people who aren’t near either of the proposed station locations continue to fight progress and logic, but I am hopeful that the majority of Supervisors will complete decades of planning and fully commit to rail to Loudoun County.
Respectfully,
Jacqui Hanson
Leesburg, VA
Loudoun Opt Out
9:18 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
"As the studies indicate, cars will come off the roads" This is not true. The Dulles Rail Project's own environmental impact study showed that there is no congestion relief, and that didn't even take the increased tolls into account. When the tolls double Jan 1, 2013 (six months from now), MWAA (who operates the toll road) estimates that 18% of Toll Road users will drop off the toll road and onto Rt. 7, Rt. 50, Rt. 28, etc. This is exactly why the federal government refuses to fund it- why invest in a transit project that makes traffic worse!?!?! A few station-area land owners have been trying to sell this to the public, but the facts are that this project is a boondoggle, a taxpayer-funded bailout for a few speculative developers.
Sherri Isbister
4:56 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
OMG give it up. We all want the Metro in Loudoun. Stop with the nonsense already. What do you own the Toll Road???
Victoria Glenn
9:30 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Cars will come off the roads indeed. We plan to go to one car, as my husband can be dropped off at the station, and picked up after work. It will save us a lot of money in car payments, insurance, gas and maintenance. I can't wait for the rail!! We may actually be able to start SAVING some money for once!
CC Mojo
3:15 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I agree, Jacqui, 100%. Great letter!
Cars will come off the roads. Mine will. The majority wants Metro, that's been made clear :)
The Baconator
3:26 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The great majority of us want the Metro to Loudoun, everyone knows it is needed. I will use it, and know plenty of people that will. 23 thousand parking spots in Reston, that's a lot of cars parked instead of on our strained toll road.
Bob Bruhns
11:56 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Um, FYI, it's actually 2,300 spaces. And they are also for the activity above the parking garage. Oh, and there are 45 Kiss-And Ride spaces too.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/transportation/wiehle-metro-garage/
But misinformation seems to be the hallmark of the Dulles Rail project, so nothing is new. Carry on.
abroderick
4:35 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bob, the matter of spaces doesn't make a difference in the good it will do for Loudoun County. It's called a kiss-and-ride space according to the website you posted. You copied that information incorrectly. See, I can point out silly mistakes too!
Bob Bruhns
4:44 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
What mistake, ab? What, I forgot a hyphen? Here is what is on the web page I linked:
"Through a public-private partnership, Fairfax County is building a garage to serve the coming Reston-Wiehle Ave Metro station on the Silver Line. The underground garage, which will be built by the time the station opens in mid-2013, will offer:
• 2,300 public parking spaces
• 45 kiss-and-ride parking spaces
• 12 bus bays
• Secure storage for 150 bicycles"
Sunshine Daisy
3:39 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Our car will come off of the road as well! Ready for this to get started so I dont have to listen to anymore grumbling about how horrid traffic is from my fiance!
Kadey Mackenzie
6:32 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Excellent letter! All valid points! Aside from all of the pros already stated, bringing the metro out here will also create jobs in and of itself.. from the folks designing the electrical and putting in the electrical, the folks building it, to the folks operating it and maintaining it upon completion...years of job stability right there alone. YES to metro!
Melvin Summers
11:29 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I can hardly wait to get on that first train and have a nice peaceful ride downtown with the kids to check out some museums. I never bring them downtown because it's just too big a pain in the but. It's going to be easier then ever to get downtown and it couldn't be more over due.
TISH G
1:21 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I cant wait for all the arguing and bickering and soap boxing to be over, have it all said and done and hop the line for day trips with the family!
The Baconator
12:23 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
Most people in the area want the Metro extended as far as they can get it. Its going to bring jobs cleaner air and better traffic. WE WANT METRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J Williams
10:45 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
I can't wait for this project to finally get off the ground. I am tired of endless hours wasted in gridlock. To have a rail station close to home will be a blessing. I know many of my neighbors feel the same way, it will be a great thing for the area.
The Baconator
1:26 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
I agree J Williams, I also am looking forward to relaxing on a train instead of stuck in gridlock. Third worst traffic in the country and we still don't have a Metro. Build the Metro
abroderick
10:24 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I agree with you. I don't understand how people can argue that we don't need a Metro when we have some of the worst traffic in this nation. I think that the Metro will help fix this. I too am looking forward to taking the Metro.
Concerned_Citizen9
11:22 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
This is not the right time to spend more of the taxpayer's money, we can not afford it. Loudoun is under great strain with all of the development going on. Our schools are over crowded because we can not afford to build them fast enough. As a whole, we are on the verge of another recession. The fed government must start cutting jobs, which will result in job loss in the NVA area. We need to be in a more conservative mode.
If you are convinced that Loudoun should spend money to reduce traffic congestion, it would be much better served to work on improving East/West roadways. That would result in immediate and long term relief of traffic congestion much more effectively in Loudoun than building metro here will. Building a metro to Ashburn will not even put a dent in the traffic, ...but it will put a huge dent in toll road driver's wallets, and the wallets of all Loudoun taxpayers.