Dulles rail opponent says project too costly
A group opposed to toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road stated in a new report that the cost to extend Metro to Dulles will cost about the same as Boston's infamous Big Dig.
The Dulles rail project, financed largely by tolls collected on the toll road, could cost $22 billion within the next 40 years for planning, constructing and financing, according to the press release from Reston-based Dulles Corridor Users Group.
The 23-mile Metro extension is being built in two phases. The first is a $3.2 billion extension of the rail line from Fall Church to Reston, and the second is a $2.7 billion extension from Reston to Dulles International Airport.
The group says costs could rise to about $1 billion per mile because the bonds issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to pay for the project are not backed by the full faith and credit from the state or Fairfax or Loudoun counties.
A better way to finance the project, and the way other jurisdictions have paid for rail projects in the past, is to create a regional sales tax DCUG stated.
"This extra cost is total waste," stated DCUG in the press release. "It is what happens when a politically unaccountable [Airports] authority is allowed to bypass long established Virginia constitution provisions that require funding for such a project to be based on voter approval of new taxes and added bonded indebtedness."
The group says residents and businesses of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, as well as those who use the Dulles Toll Road, will pay for any and all cost overruns with higher tolls, some of which could exceed $10 one way by 2040.
Boston's Big Dig, known as the most expensive infrastructure project in U.S. history because of cost overruns, buried Interstate 93 under the city.
The Big Dig and Maryland's Inter-County Connector were both approved with financing from taxes approved by voters, stated the DCUG press release.
In August, DCUG filed a lawsuit in Washington federal court demanding a $200 million refund be paid to taxpayers, as the group claims the toll road has overcharged users to pay for the Dulles rail project. The suit also demands the toll plazas be removed and the road be operated as a free highway, stated DCUG.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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Reader Reactions
Liberalised. the anarchist:
We are talking about 2 different kinds of wind power…for McDonnell et al it is flatulence…you know == the problem you have.
Where was that promised wind and wave power from Timmy? He sure got in good with the coal manufacturers and power line people, talk about blowhard. Powerlines were for power in another state too that was the sad part.
Phdee back under your rock.
mrbill:
Yes, but not too much longer. Then we will have 4 yrs of Republican wind power. Ha ha!!!
phdee,timmy is still gov.
Excuse me….but I seem to recall an election promise by Va. Republicans that McDonnell was going to sell state liquor stores, shuffle money around, etc. to provide metro funding and solve transportation problems in general.
At the time I said it was just a lot of hot air—wind power. Seems like I was correct.
Tell a lie long enough and eventually people will believe it.
Glad I live in Prince William County.
Most people don’t want these taxes so bonds are the only alternative to pay for this nightmare.
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