Virginia’s HOV/HOT projects will reduce congestion Re: “Virginia offers $1b road plan to ease N.Va. traffic,” Feb. 3
Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Virginia Department of Transportation made a significant stride in improving traffic with their new proposal to expand HOV and add a HOT lane component to one of the most heavily congested highways in the country.
Nine additional miles of HOV/HOT lanes will be added to Interstate 95. Expanding HOV lanes from their current terminus in Dumfries to Stafford County will alleviate one of the region’s worst bottlenecks. In addition, HOV lanes will be expanded from two to three lanes beyond the Springfield interchange.
For the first time, there will be a seamless HOV/HOT lane connection all the way to Tysons Corner, Virginia’s largest employment center. This network will provide transit options that do not currently exist, help stimulate the local economy by supporting more than 8,000 jobs, and reduce the huge amount of money lost every year due to traffic congestion.
I’m glad to see Fairfax County has taken a positive stance on the project. This a win-win for commuters and businesses.
Ardell Taylor Fleeson
McLean
Mubarak shouldn’t be ousted just yet
Re: “Will Egypt become truly free?” Feb. 4
The Obama administration is continuing a flawed foreign policy by insisting that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resign immediately. Such an action would lead to chaos as we abandon a leader who has been the most cooperative the U.S. can expect in the Middle East.
Although Mubarak has sometimes acted at cross-purposes to the U.S., he has maintained the peace treaty with Israel and has withheld support from both Hamas and Hezbollah. If he leaves immediately, the void will be filled by the best-organized political party in Egypt, namely the Muslim Brotherhood, which will establish a virulently anti-U.S. regime and abrogate the treaty with Israel.
At this point, the military should make sure that the transition is orderly and drawn out to allow democratic parties to coalesce in Egypt. Otherwise we shall see a repeat of Iran after the shah was overthrown.
Nelson Marans
Silver Spring
Vouchers undermine religious freedom
Re: “Boehner hopes to revive D.C. school voucher program,” Jan. 26
Revival of the D.C. school voucher plan is a bad idea for at least these reasons:
1. D.C.’s elected mayor and congressional delegate are opposed.
2. District voters rejected vouchers in the 1980s by an 89 percent to 11 percent mega-landslide margin. Nationwide, tens of millions of voters have rejected vouchers or their variants in 16 statewide referenda by an average margin of 2-to-1.
3. American voters should not be taxed to aid faith-based private schools (including Islamic ones), as this would violate their fundamental right to support only the religious institutions of their free choice.
Edd Doerr
Silver Spring
