Politicians Scramble to Save Dulles Rail Project

WASHINGTON - Politicians are scrambling to save the rail-to-Dulles project after federal regulators decided late last week that the project was unfit for federal funding.

The 23-mile extension of Metrorail is considered crucial to the region's transportation system, and without the federal contribution of $900 million, the entire $5 billion project could collapse.

"The price to the federal government was bargain. It was capped at $900 million," says Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly.

"We're going to have to find a way to do this," Connolly tells WTOP, adding that members of Congress understand the importance of the project and that congressional legislation may be an option.

Fairfax County projects the county will grow by 200,000 more people and 400,000 more jobs in the next 25 years.

And, it's predicted the rail extension would ferry 60,000 passengers a day. Without it, Connolly predicts more gridlock.

"Not only for Tysons, but for Reston and Herndon and the Route 28 corridor, you're going to see, over the years, growing congestion to the point of gridlock many hours a day. I just think that's an unacceptable option."

The Federal Transit Administration's recommendation to not fund the project stunned Connolly and the entire congressional delegation, Connolly says.

"I think they were as stunned as we were by the ferocity of this sudden, negative turn by the FTA and the Department of Transportation," Connolly says.

"Frankly, they believe part of this ideological, not partisan so much as it is ideological. People who don't believe in the transit mission and people who don't want to make large, public investments in important, public infrastructure."

Sen. John Warner has persuaded U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters to examine what Virginia state officials view as contradictions in the Federal Transit Administration's handling of the project. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is expected to talk to federal officials Monday.

Kaine says it's premature to talk about privatizing the project. Several private equity investment groups have expressed interest in the project.

Connolly says that while the private sector can get things done efficiency, he's concerned that there needs to be some public oversight over the fees passengers would pay.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)