LTE: Metro Creates Jobs, Eliminates Commutes
One reader supports Metro because of potential for jobs and heftier commercial tax base.
Letter to the Editor:
The decision about Loudoun’s participation in Metrorail will set a land-use and economic trajectory for years to come. I urge the Loudoun Board of Supervisors to say “Yes” to Metro. This infrastructure decision will provide the basis for a 21st century workplace and a 21st century community.
Dr. Stephen Fuller, Director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, recently noted: “The catalytic forces of Metro stations in Loudoun County are going to draw in from every direction.” I submit to you that this catalytic force is necessary because Loudoun lacks the ability, absent Metro, to improve road connectivity and to reduce congestion as the Northern Virginia region continues to grow.
Loudoun should strive to create a job center that will not draw more cars but instead will offer workers the opportunity to live where they work. High density, mixed-used development along the Metro stops in Loudoun will reduce traffic congestion across the county and improve the quality of life for Loudoun residents.
Additional tax dollars from businesses located near the Metro stops will help lower the real-estate tax rate and bring more amenities to the county. Metro is a win-win, and I urge the Board of Supervisors to vote “Yes.”
Charlie Jackson
Broadlands
[Charlie Jackson serves as the chair of the 10th District Congressional District Democratic Committee; however, this letter was submitted as a Broadlands resident, not from the committee.]
Sherri Isbister
10:07 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Yes good article. Someone seeing the big picture for a change.
CC Mojo
11:36 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Excellent letter, I agree wholeheartedly!
The Baconator
11:54 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I agree 100 percent, the Metro will bring Loudoun into the 21st century and it will carry us through to the 22nd century. It is going to serve generations of people and bring a continuity to our economy with neighboring counties. The time is right for Metro to Loudon
abroderick
12:04 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
I could not agree with this more!
Kadey Mackenzie
8:02 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Absolutely! Vote YES and bring the metro to Loudoun County!
joe brewer
10:39 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Traffic congestion will not be relieved because of rail if anything for the 4 to 5 years it takes to build it the rail construction will make it worse. Fuller it has been shown on many occaisions is not a good source to cite as he has a pony is the rail derby. The silver line is designed to make the airport better for air commuters. Since the toll road pays for 75%, Fairfax 16%, Loudoun 4.8% and MWAA 4.1 you would think there is a reason since Loudoun gets all the risk and little of the benefit. Opt Out and build a trolly system if you are going to use a 19th centurry mode of transportation as a fix all. Informative reading GAO report 2002, IG REport 2012 same problems with the MWAA different decade.
MIke
10:52 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Citing a bunked 'report' paid for by developers much?
Metro will do one thing for generations of Loudoun county residents and businesses, and that is shackle them to high taxes to pay for MWAA's mismanagement. High taxes will stifle small businesses in the county, and higher property taxes will hurt Loudoun county home owners. The funds that SHOULD be going to improve and maintain our schools and roads will now be shoveled into an empty pit called Metro.
Bob Bruhns
11:25 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Why do people want to pay a price that is close to two times what it should be, so that they have to borrow enormous amounts of money, and then pay two times THAT amount because of interest on the loan? And that is only for SOME of the costs. Your so-called 'leaders', and the news media, are covering up the reality - the Dulles toll road tolls will jump to $4.50 in January 2013 (after this deal is supposed to be signed, this is part of the reason for the rush), toll road users will flood side roads, people will scream, leaders will cower and pretend to be surprised, and the tolls will be paid down with billion dollar loans that will cost taxpayers ANOTHER 50 to 70 million dollars a year for fifty years. (SURPRISE!) And WMATA will be knocking at the door looking for $13 billion for its deferred maintenance (SURPRISE!), and angry Silver Line riders will be demanding more tunnels at Rosslyn because they will keep getting stuck there when there are tunnel backups. (SURPRISE!) Gee, I wonder who will pay for all of that. Wait.. wait... I can see in the Crystal Ball... why... it's... it's... TAXPAYERS!!!! (SURPRISE!)
Who would have suspected? Well actually it's well known - that's why your leaders and the news media are careful not to mention it.
PFC Prolapse
11:47 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
I actually want to pay triple just so you can update your avatar with a reaction pic.
Obviously what should be done is to privatize the Metro the same way the Greenway was privatized. Hasn't that just been a swell bit of help for the community?
Yep, the best thing to do here is to sit on our rocking chairs on the front porch and throw rocks are the kids stepping on our lawns.
The Baconator
10:41 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
The polls don't lie, the great majority want this Metro project to be approved and the majority should have it. We need public transportation like never before. It's time for Metro!!!!!!!!
abroderick
11:22 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
The general public is not as ignorant as you assume. People are capable of making their own rational decisions. Public opinion does not agree with you. It is not because there is some large conspiracy they are unaware of. It is because they have made the decision that makes to most sense to them. I welcome the Metro!
Chris Lopresti
10:06 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
One thing I would like to know is if the entire world is covering this up how did you, not an economist, stumble upon the absolute truth?
Bob Bruhns
11:05 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Why?
1) Because in late July, 2011, I happened to notice the sudden, unexplained change in the reported cost of the Rt 28 rail station - from $136 million to $83 million. Wow! I wasn't sure which price was correct, and I noticed that the difference was equal to the Rt 28 parking garage cost, so I asked Fairfax County about it. And they knew all about it, and yes, the parking garage had been counted twice. But somehow, none of our leaders, and nobody in the news media, thought it was at all newsworthy that the FTA had made a major blunder like that. And our leaders and the news media have somehow not happened to mention it, to this day. Instead, they whistled and looked the other way.
2) Because the prices in the July 3, 2011 FTA White Paper turned out to be 1.7 to 2 times what they should have been. And again, our leaders and news media just whistled and looked the other way.
3) Because the whole Dulles Rail Phase II project costs nearly two times what it should cost. And again, our leaders and the news media are whistling and looking the other way.
4) And now, because Governor McDonnell wants this rail project to be approved so that he can be Vice President. With about a Billion and a half dollars of overcharge in this job, it's pretty obvious what is going on.
BCan
1:18 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Oh Bob... looks like you will have to use the Metro when the Troll Road becomes too expensive for ya! LOL
Victoria Glenn
12:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Great letter, I couldn't agree more! Really hopeful that i will be able to find work close to home when my youngest goes off to school and i rejoin the workforce....YES to metro!
Melvin Summers
10:05 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Still 80 percent strong in support of the Metro to Loudoun. This is an essential part of the transportation solution to bring us into the 21st century. The time has come.
Yes to Metro