The McLean Citizens Association is considering a resolution that would urge officials to scrap a large part of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, a proposal sparking sharp disagreements within a group that has consistently backed the rail extension.
Susan Turner, the group’s former president, put forth the resolution last week calling on officials to “reject the existing plan for construction of Phase I of the Silver line and to consider alternative plans which would be more effective in terms of both cost and traffic reduction.” The group agreed to put the resolution to further study.
Though the McLean Citizens Association is among Fairfax County’s most high–profile and outspoken community groups, it’s unlikely the resolution would affect the eventual course of the project. Still, the debate demonstrates the extent of disagreements on how transit should take shape in the Dulles corridor.
The state now plans to run 23 miles of heavy rail from past the East Falls Church Metro station into Loudoun County. Among other reasons to reject the project, Turner’s resolution blasted the transfer of toll revenue to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to pay for the rail, the potential foisting of cost overruns onto local taxpayers and the uncertainty of federal funding. Turner told The Examiner on Monday that the rail line would not reduce traffic, but would instead increase development density and cause more congestion. Many local officials dispute this assertion.
One association member resigned in protest over Turner’s resolution. Bill Byrnes, former co-chair of the transportation committee, argues his committee was circumvented because it has “been a steadfast support of the rail.”
Byrnes said he and others were surprised to see the rail extension itself questioned. The primary debate over the past year has been whether the line should traverse Tysons Corner in a tunnel or aerial rail.
“I think the principal effect of [the resolution] is to make the MCA sound ridiculous,” he said.
