RK ARCHIVE - Metro Tunnel Underwritten by Tysons Businesses

I have some very reliable sources that have confirmed that Dragados, a Spanish tunneling company and part of Grupo ACS, has submitted a firm, fixed price bid to do the Tysons portion of the tunnel (including the stations) for $823 million. That's $200 million less than Bechtel's elevated rail and 12 months faster! My sources also have indication that Governor Kaine is trying to get the expensive, sole-source contract signed with Bechtel as soon as possible before this whole thing gets any more attention.

An elevated railway will be a disaster for Tysons! As the Washington Post says, "You're not going to like this one bit." The WaPo article says that 100,000 commuters go to Tysons and 70,000 cars pass through Tysons each day. As the WaPo says, "Many people who live and work in the Tysons area have been focused on a last-minute drive to put the tracks in a tunnel, an option preferred by almost everyone, including Metro transit managers who will wind up running the trains." Assuming an elevated railway, the WaPo depressingly concludes, "In coming years, no transportation issue in our region will compare in complexity to Tysons travel."

Comments

Puzzled and Dismayed at Kaine's Resistance (Catzmaw - 2/3/2007 6:12:27 PM)

The Washington Post's most recent reports on the progress of the Tysons Tunnel feature Governor Kaine refusing to revisit the issue for fear of losing federal funding. I am puzzled as to how everyone involved can agree that the tunnel is the best idea, there are businesses agreeing to help underwrite the cost of the tunnel, there are studies saying the tunnel's cost is competitive with and possibly even less than the above-ground option, and the FTA is also saying that they've never actually said never. Yet, the WaPo reports:

The governor said he does not intend to revisit the idea of constructing a Metro tunnel under Tysons, despite efforts by community and business groups that fear the traffic and development effects of an elevated track. Although the tunnel is the best option, Kaine said, he thinks that pursuing that option would risk the loss of nearly $1 billion from the Federal Transit Administration, which would kill the project.
"Unless [the tunnel advocates] were to get the FTA to say, 'We'll give you the $900 million either way,' we're just going to be delay, delay, delay," Kaine said. "And then potentially not get the money. . . . Time is not our friend on this."
Scott Monett, head of a McLean-based group pushing for a tunnel, disputed this, saying that the FTA has not said outright that reconsidering a tunnel would cause the loss of federal funding. The timing issue is less pressing, he said, because his group has paid $3.5 million to produce engineering plans for a tunnel.

Kaine Dubious on Death Penalty Expansion

So why isn't Governor Kaine leaning on the FTA if they're just wobbling rather than dead-set against it? And what exactly is the consequence of the delay he so fears? Tysons Corners' development has been out of control since the 60s. Could he please tell me why a little bit of delay in order to determine whether funding can be obtained to provide the better solution which will be at Tysons Corner FOREVER is not better than just rushing into above-ground option?

I'm sorry. I don't think he's providing much leadership here.

I heard the same thing (Teddy - 2/3/2007 8:51:49 PM)

although not flat out explicitly, from some one fairly close to Davis. It was said to me with a peculiar sort of satisfaction that a tunnel simply wasn't going to happen, (so get over it). Cost was mentioned. After mulling it over, I have to say that I think it has something to do with Bechtel' being a favored republican contractor, sort of like Halliburton... there must be more to it than what we see and hear on the surface.

It strikes me that this imbroglio can be used against Davis in the upcoming election??

One would hope so, (Catzmaw - 2/3/2007 9:47:08 PM)

but I bring it back to my original point. I thought Dems were going to stop letting Republican money interests get by with this crap. Now I'm hearing talk of Davis having the supreme power to declare there will be no tunnel, and directing the construction to a no-bid contract for Bechtel, etc. So the question I'm asking of Tim Kaine is: Are you willing to put your foot down and challenge Davis and his ilk on this? My deeply Republican mother who lives near Tysons is not happy about the above-ground thing. Now there are studies which call into question the alleged cost benefits of the above-ground route. If Davis is the obstacle then Kaine should take a page out of Webb's book and run him over. Call him out on the issue and drag his backroom deal into the light of day. Sheesh, this is a chance to get Northern Virginians who keep voting in Davis and Wolf to Congress but voting Democratic for all other offices to finally shuck these two. Even a lot of people who vote for Davis don't like him but do it because they view him as effective. Let them start seeing him as working against their interests. Not only should he lose the next election, but there's still time to stop this Tysons disaster.

Exactly! Time for Kaine to step up and publicize this (Catzmaw - 2/4/2007 1:04:48 PM)

He's acting as if it's a lost cause instead of directly challenging Davis and Wolf. He would have widespread support throughout Northern Virginia and Davis and Wolf could easily be put in the very uncomfortable position of having to explain themselves to their constituents. Why AREN'T they supporting what their constituents want? I know plenty of Davis constituents. He's one of those politicians one votes for while holding one's nose because he's perceived as obnoxious but effective for his constituents. If Kaine caves now there WON'T be any leverage against Davis two years from now because he could point to Kaine's opposition to the tunnel solution and claim it was Kaine's fault and he was merely doing what was needed to push the project through. He would make it sound like from the federal standpoint there was little that could be done, that it's really a state problem. If there is no action now there will be little chance of unseating him in two years.

not a chance (littlepunk - 2/5/2007 12:30:21 AM)

Good luck trying to get private businesses to pay the difference between the tunnel and the above ramp. You're talking what, hundreds of millions of dollars likely at a minimum? (Assuming the federal funding goes bye bye) That's just simply not going to happen - I can't see businesses contributing that kind of money at all with no hard ROI. I just don't see it as possible. If they can, then great - then the tunnel is the way to go.

Also, this is Kaine's decision. Stop blaming other people. Nobody is to blame - it's just what we're faced with. Kaine (and let's not forget - previously Mark Warner) approved the above ground. If Kaine wants to revisit the tunnel, then no doubt everybody will support him. But ultimately, it's his decision what to do or what not to do. Granted, many many factors to take into account - but if he wants to do tunnel, then everybody will push for the tunnel.

Private Funding (Hans Mast - 2/5/2007 10:34:16 AM)

Good luck trying to get private businesses to pay the difference between the tunnel and the above ramp. You're talking what, hundreds of millions of dollars likely at a minimum? (Assuming the federal funding goes bye bye) That's just simply not going to happen - I can't see businesses contributing that kind of money at all with no hard ROI. I just don't see it as possible. If they can, then great - then the tunnel is the way to go.

They do have the financial wherewithal to fulfill a multi-100 million dollar payout like that. However, they also have the confidence that they won't have to, because the tunnel is cheaper than the no-bid contract to Bechtel for the elevated railway.

Do We Live In A TRANSPARENT DEMOCRACY Or Not? (Lee Diamond - 2/4/2007 3:07:02 AM)

If West Group is offering to come up with the difference between the cost of the above ground version and the cost of a tunnel, it should be game over.

All this stuff about Davis is doing this behind the scenes etc. is an indication of a really bad smell to this whole thing. Something is messed up.

We have to demand the tunnel or anyone who gets near Tysons is going to live to regret it.