The post has had a few articles in the last couple of days of frustrated rail proponents writing commentary.
Hunter Mill supervisor Cathy Hudgins, wrote “Should the Federal Transit Administration cancel the project, the future would indeed be as bleak as Toles’s cartoon envisions.” Of course in her article, she wants to persuade anyone over at the FTA to approve the project.
Audrey Moore, a former supervisor from the Springfield district wrote, “[The train] can get federal funding. Put it back on track to International Drive in Tysons Corner, where public land is available for a station.” The FTA does cite the acquisition of private land as reason for rejecting the project. She also believes it might provide enough savings that phase one could reach Dulles Airport, as opposed to it’s first terminus being Wiehle Avenue.
And finally the president of Tysons Tunnel has said, “The project teeters on the brink off failure.” But he also deflected blame to the Virginia Department of Transportation, saying their delays resulted in cost escalation. If only he had mentioned that VDOT took time to evaluate a tunnel option.
The Silver Line will start in Reston at Wiehle Avenue, and then merge with the Orange Line in East Falls Church. The FTA has said the project fails it’s cost efficiency standards, which determine weather it will get critical federal funding.
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