Rail to Dulles–An Economic Engine and a Brighter Future

The benefits of the Rail to Dulles project should not be underestimated. Arlington County has the lowest tax rate of any major jurisdiction in Northern Virginia because nearly 50% of its real estate revenue comes from commercial properties, located for the most part in its transit corridors. 

You clearly can see how Metrorail has enabled significantly higher-density, mixed-use development along Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, while also enabling open space and environmentally green buildings. The Rail to Dulles project will provide similar opportunities to the residents in Fairfax and Loudoun. 

Moreover, investing in transit infrastructure, such as Metro, brings jobs while minimizing the impact on roads and congestion.  In 1970, Arlington’s Rosslyn- Ballston Metro Corridor supported 22,000 jobs. This number grew to 96,300 in 2012, representing a 338% growth in jobs and this growth occurred with a decrease in traffic. It is a model that has won accolades around the country.

Most regions in the country could not create the economic environment necessary to make a project like Rail to Dulles possible. The Loudoun Board of Supervisors needs to seize this opportunity to shape the future, not hide from it.

Sincerely,

Barbara Favola
State Senator (D) 31st District (parts of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun)
former Member and Chair, Arlington County Board