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Revived Tunnel Talk Could Delay Tysons Extension

Rendering courtesy Dulles Corridor Metrorail ProjectPERSISTENT. That's what you'd call the supporters of an effort to build Metrorail's planned Tysons Corner extension underground rather than aboveground. Every time the Tysons tunnel option seems dead — and that's been quite a few instances — it rises like a phoenix to once again fluster local officials.

Don't look now, but we see a fiery bird on the horizon.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a provision that could, if also OK'd by the Senate, delay construction of the Metro line to Dulles Airport by mandating a study of ... wait for it ... a tunnel underneath Tysons.

Here's where the story gets a little murky. From The Post's Amy Gardner:

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and several Virginia lawmakers met behind closed doors on Capitol Hill yesterday to discuss whether the provision could delay the project. ... It is not clear who asked for the language, and there is little agreement on what it would do. Elected officials in the meeting included Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and U.S. Reps. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) and Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.).
Scott Monett, president of advocacy group TysonsTunnel.org, told Gardner he met with Moran and Davis last week in an effort to breathe new life into the tunnel option. But neither congressman has taken responsibility for the provision; Davis, in fact, told The Post he didn't ask for it.

The Tysons tunnel battle has been long and hard-fought. Supporters say a tunnel would be more aesthetically pleasing and allege that an aboveground Metro line would disrupt plans to turn Tysons into a more pedestrian-friendly business district. Opponents, including Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and other officials, say the costs of tunneling under Tysons would jeopardize funding for the entire Metro extension project.

» "U.S. House Provision May Imperil Extension" [WaPo]

EARLIER:
» "Feds Cast Doubt on Tysons Rail; Saga Drags On" [Free Ride/Express]
» "Poll Center: Wrong Choice for Tysons Rail?" [Free Ride/Express]
» "Fairfax Board OKs Metro Extension Funding" [Free Ride/Express]

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COMMENTS (1)

  • This great article reiterates what the citizens of the Tysons area have asked for all along ��a tunnel for the Tysons Corner portion of Dulles Metrorail. You should point out however, that the tunnel folks have always asked for a side-by-side comparison between the tunnel and elevated to avoid further delays. Let's not forget that there have already been numerous costly delays and missed deadlines in trying to work out the contract for elevated rail between DTP, MWAA and Fairfax County, to name a few players. The tunnel supporters have gone through the trouble of doing all of their own preliminary engineering work � at their own expensse sometime over this past winter. This information can be used now to do the necessary work to get the tunnel and put this project out to bid. Elevated vs. Tunnel!

    By ESMOBSTER , Posted August 6, 2007 9:38 AM
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