Ben says that the Tysons tunnel rally today was "the weirdest event I have been to in a while," and I think he's onto something there. A few examples:*Chap Petersen geting "bumped" at the last minute from his previously scheduled speaking role, while his opponent for State Senate - Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis (JMDD) - shows up and gets to speak despite NOT being listed as a speaker beforehand.
*Jim Moran coming to a pep rally and giving a brutally honest but definitely "non-peppy" speeech. Moran got heckled off and on during his speech, and he obviously was not pleased - Moran still seemed pretty peeved when I saw him 15 minutes or so after the speeches ended. Among other things, Moran was not happy that he was being blamed (in part) for this situation, even though in 2002, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed a mostly aerial alignment through Tysons Corner. The fact is, Moran is right on that point.
*Moran's cell phone ringing at least twice during his speech. The first time, it was Tim Kaine, who was treated to the crowd yelling, "We want a tunnel" and "speakerphone!" as the Governor and Moran chatted for several mintutes. The second time the phone rang, it apparently was Mame Reilly on the line. I'm not sure what she wanted exactly. :)
*Tom Davis - very personable guy, by the way! - responding to a question from me about whether Senator Webb was working on the Tysons tunnel issue. Davis said something to the effect of, "Jim Webb's a one-issue Senator." Hmmmm...I could have sworn that Senator Webb was working on a wide range of foreign policy, veterans, and economic issues. Also, I would note that NEITHER of Virginia's U.S. Senators was at the rally today. Anyway...
*The absence of Frank Wolf, whose district is greatly impacted by Metro to Dulles, from the rally. (Moran explained that Wolf wasn't there because he was "afraid that all his work could come to naught.")
*JMDD telling me about a Jetsons-like system for moving 5 people or fewer around in small elevated rail cars that could even enter buildings. According to JMDD, this system is in use in Europe and could work well in Tysons. I'm not sure about the cost. Does anyone know anything about this system? JMDD also said that we could just run the Metro to Dulles and skip Tysons altogether.
Actually, I do not believe that Jim Moran is entirely correct, as well as the article you linked. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors always preferred a tunnel through Tysons, but they understood in the 1990s through 2005 that the cost was prohibitive. During that debate, the only proven and viable option was to use a tunnel boring method that was only big enough to carry one train through the tunnel, hence the need for TWO parallel tunnels. Imagine the costs!
But in 2002 and 2003, there were successes with large-bore (>30ft diameter) tunneling in Europe and Asia by using a new method called Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machines. This new method allowed for tunneling, shoring-up, and concrete membrane fittings simultaneously.
This success bloomed in 2005 through 2006 when more large-bore tunneling in Europe was completed. Canada will see this type of tunneling in 2008-2009, and Miami (believe it or not) is considering the method.
Flavor of the EPB accomplishments:
2002: 32ft Diameter tunnel in Netherlands
2005: 39ft Diameter tunnel in Malasia
2005: 47ft Diameter tunnel in Russia
2007: 50ft Diameter tunnel in Spain
This large-bore EPB tunneling will allow ONE digging pass and provide TWO parallel tunnels. The specification for an economically viable tunnel through Tysons Corner is 42ft. in diameter. Hey, if a European company can assemble and dig a tunnel in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia, it can certainly be done in Virginia, USA!
I encourage you to refer to the tysonstunnel.org slideshow presentation for more information and perspective--you'll see the EPB accomplishments in Walter Mergelsberg's presentation. I also encourage you to contact the presenters for detailed information and to answer any questions you may have.
http://www.tysonstun...
Tunnel Specs:
http://www.tysonstun...
Most of the people at today's tysonstunnel event, and perhaps as many as 2,000 more, saw the presentation first-hand at the tysonstunnel town halls in October and December of 2006. All of the current Fairfax Board of Supervisors either saw that presentation first-hand or were briefed individually by most of those presenters. Needless to say, the board voted unanimously for the tunnel method in January of this year and encouraged Governor Kaine and the Congressional Delegation to reconsider this option.
This tunnel option was not viable in 1994, 1998, or in 2002 when appropriated funding was considered by the Federal government and the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, because all of the principal owners and operators of this large-bore EPB method are European companies, Bechtel and FTA officials never considered the new method and if they knew of the EPB success, they never chose to include that information to the Commonwealth so our Governor could determine whether contract bidding was necessary.
The fact is that a lot of Fairfax County residents have seen or reviewed the tunnel option and were "in-the-know" by the time this event rolled around today. 15,000 people have now signed the petition because the large-bore EPB machine is now a proven and cost-effective method.
Even today Tom Davis backtracked and acknowledged that this is a viable option and the timing may work out. He was even quoted as such in this week's Washington Post article:
`Davis, who last summer was one of the strongest voices warning about the risks of a tunnel, said last night that the federal officials' statements raised the possibility that Kaine could still switch plans, if he acted quickly. Davis added that there is still the question of whether a tunnel would cost too much, but he noted that recent estimates by companies proposing a tunnel have placed its cost below the latest estimates for an elevated line. "It looks like the timing issue could be overcome. It looks like the governor's got six more weeks, doesn't it, to [change plans] and still be eligible for funding," he said. "He's been handed another hot potato. If you move quickly and things go right, you could in theory meet the timeline."'
http://www.washingto...
I sincerely hope that others will read this and consider signing the petition, if they have not already done so.
--A Democrat, a Fairfax County resident, and a tunnel supporter.