This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Update: Council Discusses Support for Rail to Loudoun

Leesburg Town Council could vote on resolution supporting Metrorail project Tuesday night.

Following Monday night's work session, the Town Council decided to hold off on any discussion regarding Metrorail into Loudoun County. The item was removed from Tuesday night's agenda at the request of Council Member Terry Titus due to lack of details.

The debate over the merits of extending Metrorail into Loudoun County shifted to the Town of Leesburg Monday night as the Town Council discussed a proposed resolution that would express the town’s support for the rail project.

During the council’s work session, members generally expressed support for the project, although several members said they would like to receive more information before voting on the resolution.

Find out what's happening in Leesburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“My concern here is that we express our desire to have the Metro [extended] at least to Loudoun County, so our citizens can go down the toll road or Route 28…and use the Metro,” said Council Member C. Terry Titus, who offered the draft resolution.

“We have this opportunity, and it may be the only one we get,” Titus said. “This county is hamstrung by not having an Interstate [highway]. It doesn’t have good access to anything. But when you put that Metro out here, it will give us access.”

Find out what's happening in Leesburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Council Member David S. Butler said that he was prepared to support a resolution in favor of the Metrorail project.

“It wouldn’t do me a whole lot of good if the rail just went to [Dulles] Airport and stopped,” Butler said. “I want a place where I can drive, park, and take the Metro in and go to Nationals games.”

Council Member Katie Hammler expressed frustration that the council was being asked to support the resolution without a full briefing on the subject. She asked for more information about what would happen if Loudoun County failed to support the project.

Council Members Kevin D. Wright and Thomas S. Dunn also requested more information about the impacts the project would have on transportation systems and the local economy.

Town Manager John Wells said that if the county agrees to participate in the Metrorail project, the town would lose the gas tax funding that it currently receives from the county, because all of the county’s gas tax revenues would go to fund the Metrorail project instead. He said that the town currently receives about $1 million annually from the gas tax, all of which goes toward capital projects.

Wells said that the county had received an extension until July 4 to decide whether to participate in the project.

“I think this is a super project, and I think we ought to try whatever little thing we can try to urge them to do it,” Titus said.

The proposed resolution is on the agenda for consideration at the council’s Tuesday night business meeting.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?