Metro to Dulles and Real Traffic Solutions

The last large infusion of cash for funding Virginia's roads and highways was in 1987. I and about 100 others were reminded of this fact this morning at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce meeting on the Dulles corridor metrorail project. No wonder we're in such a mess every morning on our way to work! And no wonder that at almost every door I knock someone complains about the problems of getting from here to there. Every day. The "Friday effect" doesn't even always work on Fridays any longer. Rush hour now begins at 6am and doesn't end until 10pm. It is absolute madness to think we can continue to ignore the obvious.

The Commonwealth has the third largest highway system in the United States which contributes to the mobility and flexibility of the workforce. Unfortunately, like so many other state mandates, our transportation is under-funded. In addition, the money designated for the Transportation Fund is frequently diverted to shore up other shortfalls in the budget, or for porkbarrel political projects.

I support extending Metro to Dulles. It is a great, common-sense approach to take commuters off the roads and reduce our traffic mess. However, we can't fund Dulles metro or other critical transportation projects when state government keeps misappropriating transportation funds. I will fight for legislation in Richmond to protect the Transportation Fund, so we can start addressing the root causes of our traffic problems. The transportation mess is far too big to ignore, at least for those of us who drive in it every day, and Virginia residents deserve real traffic solutions.