For Immediate Release
November 14, 2012
Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth
(703) 599-6437 – mobile
“The state has failed to provide a fair share toward Dulles Rail from its Transportation Trust Fund, saddling Northern Virginians with nearly the entire cost of Phase 2,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Meanwhile, VDOT is channeling state funds to speculative and unnecessary rural highway projects. While only promising $150 million toward Dulles Rail Phase 2 (and not yet following-through), Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton is proposing to spend $1.18 billion on the unjustified Route 460 through rural countryside south of the James River.”
Route 460 is not even a priority of the Hampton Roads leadership, which is angered over the failure of the state to do more to reduce toll costs on the Midtown/Downtown Tunnel project and by the failure of the state to invest in the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel crossings.
“It’s time for the state to stop taking its too Metro area economic engines for granted – Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. We ask again for Secretary Connaughton to commit $500 million or more to the $2.8 billion Dulles Rail Phase 2 reducing the burden on Northern Virginia tollpayers and taxpayers. Instead of Route 460, he should be investing in the transportation priorities identified by local officials in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia,” said Schwartz.
About the Coalition for Smarter Growth
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading nonprofit organization addressing where and how the Washington region grows, partnering with communities in planning for the future, and offering solutions to the interconnected challenges of housing, transportation, energy and the environment. We ensure that transportation and development decisions accommodate growth while revitalizing communities, providing more housing and travel choices, and conserving our natural and historic areas. The Coalition’s website is www.smartergrowth.net
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