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| *Travel Tips>>>Washington, D.C. Travel Tips |
How come the metrorail does not go to Dulles? Ridiculous!? |
Travel Info I've heard there are "future plans" to extend all the way to Dulles I.A. We need it NOW. Is the work in progress? Travel Tips Some of the reasons it has not been built yet have to do with local politics. Many Northern Virginia residents are all for the Metro extension to Dulles but none of them want to see their property taxes, income taxes, or gas taxes go up. They want better public transportation but don't want to pay for it--- they think Metro should pay, but Metro does not have that kind of budget. Some in VA think DC should pay for some or all of the new Metro line because so many people will be using it to travel to DC to work, but DC won't pay because they don't get any income taxes from people who live in VA and work in DC. And there's also people who do not want to see the construction itself--- these are often the same people who keep protesting any new construction to I-66 inside the Beltway; even though it's only 2 lanes and is a solid traffic jam from 2pm-8pm every weekday, there's an amazing amount of opposition to new construction. This is all complicated by the massive housing boom in Northern VA, especially places like Herndon and Reston. 10 years ago, those areas were really the boonies but as property values inside the Beltway rose, more people moved out to these areas, clogging the roads and making it a traffic nightmare. But public works projects like new roads and new metro lines take 10-20 years or more to execute; so Metro just has not been able to keep up with the insane growth in that area. Others It is not easy to link an airport that far from the city centre (26 miles). The plan is to extend the orange line to Dulles Airport and beyond. 11 stations are to be built. Construction will start this year, but the first phase will not open until 2012. Dulles is not in this first phase, but in the second phase that will open in 2015. For more information check www.dullesmetro.com Yes it is silly and of course it is politics. Especially with Dulles being the major airport for the capital of the free world and is a superpower. They are currently argueing if it will under Tysons Corner of be above ground. Metro used to pay for its own rail construction but Virginia is paying the $4 Billion price tag for the Metro Silver Line extension from West Falls Church to somewhere in Loudoun County. In Tyson's Corner, they are arguing over how much of the subway should be in tunnel vs. above ground given the congested and hilly area. The Governor has provided his own opinion as to how the line should be constructed. Eventually, Metro will go to Dulles and beyond but that may not result in skyrocketing property values nor in any improvements in traffic. If MD extends the Green line to BWI Airport, then the DC metro area may be the only place in the world where rapid transit connects all 3 area airports. The people who answered before really hit the nail on the head. Metro service to Dulles is sorely needed, and as people said, most residents of northern Virginia want it, but also don't want their local taxes to rise. And the capital investment is great enough that Metro can't afford it. From what I understand, rough plans are in place but it will be years before the financing and exact details are worked out. (At least that's MY prediction - it will take them forever!) I have no idea why they built such a huge airport SO far out from the city. Whenever I fly to DC - which is all the time - I usually go into National Airport because it's SO much more convenient and pleasant. Imagine how far out Dulles was when it was built 40 years ago! I agree with you 100% though, they desperately need Metro service to Dulles. Even if we started construction tomorrow, it wouldn't be out there for probably a good 5-10 years. I'm out in MoCo and Shady Grove took forever to get out here. I remember when the Tenleytown station opened in around 1980 and that was a big deal! Yes Metro would be nice, but so would a stop on over-development. It will go to Dulles by 2014. Metro is currently building the purple line. The purple line will go from Greenbelt MD through Tyson's Corner and the purple line will then connect into the extended orange line from Falls Church VA to Dulles Airport. |
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