McLean Chamber's Effort to Finesse Tough Questions about the Silver Line
The McLean Chamber of Commerce is taking another run at a tunnel at Tysons Corner for the proposed Silver Line. The Chamber does not like Governor Tim Kaine's decision to support an elevated line and is engaged in a big PR campaign to reverse that decision. It has a website
http://www.tysonstunnel.org and is raising some valid issues, including the longer life for a tunnel versus elevated track, the general aesthetics, and whether competitive bidding could reduce the costs.
But, as is unfortunately all too true with Fairfax businesses, the Chamber is dodging the big questions -- the hard questions. Instead of acknowledging real issues with the Silver Line, the Chamber makes an attempt to finesse them with a website, catchy slogan ("It's not over until it's under"), T-shirts and a slick PR firm. Many local residents, who would quickly agree that a tunnel is better than the El, would still like the hard questions answered. Here are three that should be answered by the McLean Chamber of Commerce publicly and immediately.
1) Why should taxpayers and toll road users spend at least $4 billion dollars to build a Metro extension when the Commonwealth's own data show that there is no significant improvement in traffic? The data have been publicly posted on this blog as of September 9, 2006. Yet, no one addresses this serious failure.
Moreover, the $4 billion cost estimate is not likely valid anymore. It's likely way too low. Construction costs continue to soar. The details of this inflation can readily be found at the website of the Association of General Contractors.
http://www.agc.org If one takes AGC data for increases the producers price index for other heavy construction and sets costs for 2001 at 100, the index for August 2006 is up to 141.02. Moreover, the construction trade association forecasts continued inflation in construction materials at rates above general inflation.
2) In view of these increasing costs and the limited financing being provided by the federal government and the local business tax district, there will be cost overruns, regardless of which entity runs the program. Who will pay for these cost overruns?
3) Who is funding the Chamber's efforts to lobby approval for the tunnel? The Chamber should produce a list that includes the top 50 contributors and the amounts given. Is this a grassroots effort or one being funded by the big Tysons Corner landowners (e.g., West Group) and their executives, consultants and agents?
Let's talk about all the issues and not just the ones the PR firm thinks are best.
http://www.tysonstunnel.org and is raising some valid issues, including the longer life for a tunnel versus elevated track, the general aesthetics, and whether competitive bidding could reduce the costs.
But, as is unfortunately all too true with Fairfax businesses, the Chamber is dodging the big questions -- the hard questions. Instead of acknowledging real issues with the Silver Line, the Chamber makes an attempt to finesse them with a website, catchy slogan ("It's not over until it's under"), T-shirts and a slick PR firm. Many local residents, who would quickly agree that a tunnel is better than the El, would still like the hard questions answered. Here are three that should be answered by the McLean Chamber of Commerce publicly and immediately.
1) Why should taxpayers and toll road users spend at least $4 billion dollars to build a Metro extension when the Commonwealth's own data show that there is no significant improvement in traffic? The data have been publicly posted on this blog as of September 9, 2006. Yet, no one addresses this serious failure.
Moreover, the $4 billion cost estimate is not likely valid anymore. It's likely way too low. Construction costs continue to soar. The details of this inflation can readily be found at the website of the Association of General Contractors.
http://www.agc.org If one takes AGC data for increases the producers price index for other heavy construction and sets costs for 2001 at 100, the index for August 2006 is up to 141.02. Moreover, the construction trade association forecasts continued inflation in construction materials at rates above general inflation.
2) In view of these increasing costs and the limited financing being provided by the federal government and the local business tax district, there will be cost overruns, regardless of which entity runs the program. Who will pay for these cost overruns?
3) Who is funding the Chamber's efforts to lobby approval for the tunnel? The Chamber should produce a list that includes the top 50 contributors and the amounts given. Is this a grassroots effort or one being funded by the big Tysons Corner landowners (e.g., West Group) and their executives, consultants and agents?
Let's talk about all the issues and not just the ones the PR firm thinks are best.
posted by Toomanytaxes at 9:24 AM
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