It’s good to hear that the concept of tunneling through Tysons Corner for the extension of the line that would eventually go out to Dulles Airport is still on the table. It seems like the only way to create the sort of walkable and livable environment everyone has envisioned. Street-level or overhead trains there would create a sort of kinetic energy and noise that would put everyone on edge, even those just visiting to do some shopping. County board supervisor Dana Kauffman, D-Lee, is correct when he says that the time to get it right is right now. At the same time, I don’t know that I would believe the contractors who say that they can build a tunnel for just pennies more than what it would cost for surface rail. This sounds like the usual “Let’s just get it started and see what happens” argument that leads to huge cost increases.
Thoughts on trash, eating on Metro
More trash-talking about Metro and some interesting thoughts and ideas. The first comes from Ralph who writes: “I date the trashing of Metro to two decisions made by WMATA. First, was the unavoidable decision after Sept. 11 to remove all trash cans from the system. … Next, and certainly not a necessary decision, was allowing the Post Express to be distributed on Metro property at station entrances throughout the system. As a result, cars and stations are now littered beyond control with that rag (I seldom see copies of The Examiner on my Red Line commute downtown from Silver Spring, but it too could be a culprit in other parts of the area).
