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Metro and our area

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by hberg, Dec 3, 2003.

  1. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I heard on the radio today that the proposed metro funding was killed in committee out of Herndon and that the project is dead in the water. Anyone know any more info on this?
     
  2. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    Herndon was faced with a bum decision. No win. The way the deal was structured, Herndon was asked to accept/approve a 20% commercial tax, and the only guarantee was that rail would extend from Falls Church to Reston's Wiehle Avenue. No guarantee that this first phase would reach Herndon. I don't blame them. I believe they approved a support resolution, as long as the rail extended to Herndon.

     
  3. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    This may sound like a crazy thought but I wonder if there is any possibility that private funding or some type of consortium could be formed for extension of the Metro services to Reston/Herndon and beyond? Maybe something similar like the privately owned Dulles Greenway?

    It has been 10 plus years since I last lived in the Northern Virginia region and even then there were always discussions about extending the metro. It is so disappointing to return and find that there has been no headway on this matter.


     
  4. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    Nice thought, but we thought of that when the Greenway went in. Allowed a private organization to build what should of been a public resource. Now we are faced with astronomical fees and fee increase requests, fees that keep most away from using the road. I'd be against anything that is private at this point. Now we are stuck with the Greenway, unless State wanted to buy them out, and I am sure they would want a whopping fee for that. They now control an area that all should have access to, and we are stuck. Not to rant on your quest for rail, but just venting. Rail is also important.

     
  5. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    I do understand your feelings and initially had the same view when I returned to the region and discovered the Greenway and how it had been built. But after all is said and done, while it is a pity that it went in privately, I am very relieved that it is available for those who want to make use of it. I have the same perspective regarding expansion of the Metro too. I'd rather see it go forward privately than not go forward at all.


     
  6. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    I can respect your opinion. However, consider this. The Greenway wants to charge $3.00 per one way use, or $6.00 round trip. That is a hypothetical 300% increase over a "free ride" on a public road.

    The current fee on Metro is $5.00 unlimited use for a day. Then it can be hypothesized that the Metro fee from our community would be 300% more, or $30 per commute. Would you still consider it useful? I wouldn't.

     
  7. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    It will be interesting to see whether the proposed toll increase as such does go through for the Greenway. After all, if the increases are too much and the road is not used, then speaking practically, the toll would have to be decreased. I would hope for the same pertaining to the Metro. Even though I have a smart tag I'm still selective on when I use the Greenway.

    Does anyone know much about the park & ride at exit 8 of the Greenway? Is it similar to Reston and provides bus service to the Falls Church metro or something?
     
  8. Zansu

    Zansu New Member

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    http://www.loudoun.gov/transportation/mass.htm describes the bus service. They are greyhound-like buses, not metro-like and go downtown. $6 each way, or but a book of 10 coupons for $50. They're pretty nice, dependable, and quicker tan having to switch to metro.
     
  9. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    Many thanks for the info. This does sound pretty good.


     

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