TysonsTunnel.org: "Where's the sense of responsibility?"

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/30/2008 2:26:01 PM

I just got off the phone with Scott Monett, president of TysonsTunnel.org. For those of you not familiar with TysonsTunnel.org, this is the organization which has led the effort to ensure that Metro to Dulles rail is built the right way -- with competitive bidding and with a tunnel as opposed to an aerial option in Tysons Corner. This morning, there was a major development in this saga, with the FTA pledging to "commit $158.7 million to use toward completion of a financial plan, construction plans, detailed engineering specifications and cost estimates, and other technical requirements."

According to Monett, his organization is waiting for all the details of the FTA decision before deciding exactly what course of action to take next. Monett had a lot more to say, but first, here's a key paragraph from the FTA indicating that this is not -- despite what the Washington Post reported this morning -- a done deal yet:

However, there are still hurdles facing this project and we will not commit any federal funds for construction until a number of outstanding issues are resolved. These issues include MWAA's ability to: ensure that sufficient funds are available to cover risks; demonstrate that the project can proceed on schedule and on budget; properly oversee the single largest design-build contract in the history of the New Starts program. In addition, we must be assured that state-of-good-repair needs for the entire Metro system will be addressed.

Now, back to my conversation with Scott Monett of TysonsTunnel.org.  

*Monett said several times that he was "shocked" at the 180-degree turnaround by the feds on this project.  

*Monett indicated that his group had been completely "blindsided" by this morning's announcement.

*Monett expressed a great deal of exasperation:

After 100 presentations [on this project], virtually everybody shakes their head at what their leaders are doing.  They can't believe that a sole-source contract has this much support. "Where's the sense of responsibility," Monett asked, by our elected officials?  Where's their "sense of obligation to protect the public interest?" "It just blows my mind," Monett concluded.

So what now?  TysonsTunnel.org plans to continue fighting for what's right here. They plan to continue making their case in Fairfax County and elsewhere.  Legal action remains an option, although they'd rather not resort to that.  The bottom line is that TysonsTunnel.org isn't giving up, it ain't over 'til it's over, etc.  Stay tuned.

Comments



TysonsTunnel.org statement (Lowell - 4/30/2008 2:37:23 PM)
TYSONSTUNNEL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH FTA DECISION

Vows to Continue Fighting for Competitive Bidding

Tysons Corner, Va. (April 30)-Following is a statement by TysonsTunnel President Scott A. Monett regarding today's announcement that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will approved $900 million of federal funding for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project:

"Tysons Tunnel and its tens of thousands of supporters in Northern Virginia are extremely disappointed about today's Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project news. Despite this development we still strongly believe it to be in the best interests of Northern Virginia taxpayers that the state competitively bid the Dulles rail project and that it study a tunnel for Tysons Corner. Taking this common-sense approach would assure the residents of this region that they are not overpaying for Metro service to Dulles International Airport.

"The FTA's stunning and unexpected reversal leaves many unanswered questions regarding what changes have been made to the Dulles rail project to make it eligible for nearly a billion dollars of federal funding.

"For instance, what changes have been made by the state of Virginia and Dulles Transit Partners (DTP) that so significantly improved the project's cost efficiency? How can the projected ridership numbers suddenly qualify the rail line for federal funding? What cost, construction and contract management changes have been made to ensure the Dulles rail project doesn't become yet another expensive public construction boondoggle like Boston's Big Dig? What assurances has DTP given the state and the FTA that costs will not balloon beyond the project's predicted $5 billion cost?

"These and numerous other critical questions demand answers. The FTA must fully explain to the thousands of citizens of Northern Virginia why competitive bidding is not needed and what factors so dramatically influenced its unconscionable 180 degree position change.

"Of course, today's decision may mean that unanswered questions about fair pricing and construction methodology likely never will be answered and a cloud of uncertainty will forever shroud the project. This is an unfortunate outcome for the citizens of Northern Virginia who repeatedly and clearly have stated their wishes to their elected representatives in Richmond and Washington, D.C.

"TysonsTunnel will take time over the coming days to assess today's developments and the overall situation. We will determine our next steps to affect competitive bidding for this multi-billion dollar public transportation project.

"To the many citizens, business owners and elected leaders who have supported Tysons Tunnel over the past 18 months, I appreciate your unwavering support and conviction and I urge each of you continue to stand with TysonsTunnel as we continue our mutual fight for what is best for Northern Virginia and its people."

Tysons Tunnel represents an unprecedented coalition of community associations, small businesses, environmental groups, landowners, civic groups, homeowner associations, major corporations and private citizens calling for competitive bidding of the Metrorail extension to Dulles Airport and supporting construction of a tunnel under Tysons Corner.



Behind Closed Doors (HisRoc - 4/30/2008 2:38:19 PM)
It is obvious from the Post article and Amy Gardner's on-line chat about it this afternoon that the politicians have decided to take this thing into a closed back room and make decisions without the input of those pesky citizens.  So much for open government.  And, notice that it is being done by Republicans at the Federal level and Democrats at the state and county level.

This is why we need a viable third party in our country.  Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans feel any obligation to the voters anymore.  They're like tweedledee and tweedledum.



This is bad government (Lowell - 4/30/2008 2:39:28 PM)
through and through - heavy handed, secretive, no-bid contract to Bechtel, on good explanations to the public, etc., etc.  Pathetic.


Now, now, Lowell (Catzmaw - 4/30/2008 11:19:12 PM)
Dontcha know, the gummint knows best, especially the current gummint.  If they want to have no-bid contracts I'm sure they must know something we simpletons don't.


At this point I am glad that the extension (jiacinto - 4/30/2008 5:44:13 PM)
is going forward. An above-ground line is better than no line at all.  


Again, false dichotomy (Lowell - 4/30/2008 5:49:52 PM)
Why do you buy the b.s. the politicians tell you?  I am 100% convinced that we could have rail to Dulles with competitive bidding and a tunnel in Tysons for the same or less money than we're getting the current configuration for.  The question is, why did the politicians ram this through in this way?  Something's fishy.


I'm with you Lowell, I want answers (Annie - 4/30/2008 10:40:19 PM)
I'm begging those with more resources than humble me to get to the bottom of this. I smells really, really bad -- what is the motive for this boondoggle?


I talked to the president of (Lowell - 5/1/2008 5:48:02 AM)
TysonsTunnel.org yesterday, and he doesn't have any good answers either.  Frankly, most anyone who knows anything about this situation is completely dumbfounded.


Scott Monett is right on the money (no pun intended) (Hiker Joe - 4/30/2008 10:28:01 PM)
Our elected officials are indeed abdicating their responsibility to their constituents in forcing through this flawed design.

The project doesn't go to Dulles Airport, it will not reduce traffic, and it benefits only a few special interests.

1. One of the "challenges" originally cited by the FTA was "a revised termination point."  The current project does not actually go to Dulles Airport, only to Wiehle Avenue.  There is currently no money allocated for extending service to the airport. The project is more accurately called "Tysons Rail."

The Town of Herndon (prompted by many of their constituent land owners) rejected a tax district that would have paid for the extension to Dulles Airport.  There is currently no plan in place to fund the rail line to Dulles Airport.

2. Just the Tysons phase of this project will cost several billion dollars and will benefit primarily a few politically well connected land owners, such as West*Group, a major contributor to the campaigns of Gerry Connolly and numerous other elected officials, the auto dealers, also major contributors to Connolly, and SAIC, Connolly's employer.

3. The sole-source El benefits no one except Bechtel and the major landowners.

The populace relies upon the press and their elected officials for objective information. Both of these sources have failed their constituents when it comes to Dulles/Tysons rail.