Dulles or Bust

I have not been a fan of the Dulles Rail Project pretty much since its inception. The whole thing had the stench of political posturing and manipulation that made many of the elements and projections questionable. For example, the ridership projections used for the Environmental Impact Studies were thought by many experts to be overly optimistic. That meant that the impact on the volume of traffic was equally high. Oh yeah, the cost of the project was locked at $2.8 billion and there was no way, according to so many advocates, that it would go higher. Of course, the figure of $5 billion is now used as if nothing had changed. 

The use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a long-term or permanent solution was never able to be considered because the Airports Authority wouldn't allow it. They wanted rail and nothing but rail. Unfortunately that meant Metro rail. I say unfortunately because Metro really has only one way of doing things and just can't seem to think outside the box. Do planners really think that anyone will want to take this service out to the airport to pick up passengers or bring them back?  I'm sure that most airline passengers wouldn't mind adding an extra hour or hour and a half to the time it already takes to catch a flight. 

Here was an excellent chance to change the usual Metro way of doing things and to add an express line that would connect Tysons or East Falls Church to the airport. Most of the rights of way were already paid for and it would have been a great way to show that the system could be a tool for regular commuters and for single use passengers as well. Not enough riders using the airport to justify and cost of an express rail service?  Fine. Then combine rail with BRT. Having the buses run from the airport to a mid-point terminal makes so much more sense than having international air passengers stop at every commuter station on their way in. Too many changes in service? Isn't Dulles the airport that since its inception has required passengers to board a bus to get from their place or from a midfield terminal to the main terminal?

Then there is the question of the increase in tolls on the Dulles Toll Road. Those extra quarters being collected for years tend to add up. Has anyone done an audit of where all this money is going or has gone? I hope that someone keeps a close eye on this element especially as the rates continue to rise...and rise they will.

I won't even speculate as to why the Federal Transit Administration made such a huge about face on this project and committed the federal government to participate in it. I'm sure that political arm twisting was employed, but by whom and how so? This project is a dog with an awful lot of fleas but in the end it looks like some things never change including the blind going forward in the name of feel good politics.

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Today is the 5th of May.  That means that, in the name of Cinco de Mayo, many people may be drinking too much. Like St. Patrick's Day, the 5th of May has become little more than an excuse to overdo it. Be particularly careful when driving or walking today. You never know who has been celebrating and who hasn't so just assume the worst and be extra careful.

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Steve Eldridge is a long-time reporter, observer and commentator on the Washington region's transportation issues. You can contact him directly by writing to: Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com. Unless otherwise requested, letters or portions of letters can be used within future columns. Letter writers will be identified by their first name and city/neighborhood.

Comments

[Steve]

I agree that few if any people will use the rail line to go to or from the airport (airport workers excepted, perhaps).
However, if they plan it well through Tyson's with a tunnel and smart future land-use planning, it can be used as a catalyst for the kind of urban village success that has been experienced in Arlington.
Also, they would be really smart to make it three tracks wide instead of two. That would allow for much greater flexibility--including express service and the ability to detour around breakdowns, etc.
Unfortunately, all this requires 25-year thinking and real vision instead of short-term politics.