tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post2429691436653480728..comments2024-02-29T14:00:40.184-05:00Comments on Restonian: News blog from Reston, Virginia, the mauve-colored New Town (tm): Game of Drones: Doubts on the Future of Silver Line Phase 2 Now Revolving Completely, Not Just Partially, Around Partisan IssuesRestonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15519884797760354007noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-19857541227627338412012-05-06T13:34:24.246-04:002012-05-06T13:34:24.246-04:00Actually, if you look at Steve Pearlstein's co...Actually, if you look at Steve Pearlstein's column today (link below) you will see that companies with union workforces and those w/ non-union workforces are paying about the same to their workers. There is no 10% cost savings from the union-bashing measure. Plus, the VA law you mention was just rammed through and represents a change in the state's prior negotiating commitments.<br /><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/hostage-taking-on-the-silver-line/2012/05/04/gIQAP4Rw3T_story.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-3936142432772262882012-05-02T17:24:20.878-04:002012-05-02T17:24:20.878-04:00Dear Convict--
You have obviously spent too much ...Dear Convict--<br /><br />You have obviously spent too much time on the penal island in dark solitary. <br /><br />Please come back and join us in the real world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-61136585988403014792012-05-02T16:20:59.115-04:002012-05-02T16:20:59.115-04:00@The Convict: In other words, you'd like to pu...@The Convict: In other words, you'd like to pull the same stunt with Loudoun that Arlington has with Fairfax residents when it comes to regional transit? If it isn't enough that the main commuting artery to DC from Northern Fairfax is HOV restricted, do we think it was an accident that there isn't a direct exit from I-66 to the West Falls Church Metro Station? <br /><br />Somehow, that doesn't seem like much of a solution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-87165429694695223572012-05-02T14:03:30.456-04:002012-05-02T14:03:30.456-04:00I fail to see what the fuss is. While I firmly be...I fail to see what the fuss is. While I firmly believe that the Silver line should extend all the way to Dulles, it's no big deal if it doesn't. In fact, we can turn this to our advantage, if we play the cards right.<br /><br />First, the parking garages are owned by the County. We let county residents park in their for a nominal $1/day but charge everybody else $10/day. Better yet, make that $17, just to keep pace with the DTR tolls.<br /><br />Second, we block as many cut-throughs from LoCo to Fairfax, forcing them onto the major thoroughfares instead of slithering into and through the county on the back roads.<br /><br />Third, we offer to assist with the cost of the extension for a definite period of time, say, 3 years. After that, any extension will have to be funded with no financial assistance from us.<br /><br />Fourth, we close all of the ramps on DTR that the LoCo's would use to access Reston in both directions. If they insist on using the DTR to come to Reston, they're just going to have to backtrack in order to get to their final destination.<br /><br />Fifth, we offer rebates to all Fairfax County residents who USE the DTR during rush hour.<br /><br />The possibilities for "helping" Lo Co to see the light are unlimited.The Convictnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-90536193390088771202012-05-02T09:22:23.800-04:002012-05-02T09:22:23.800-04:00Why do I feel like I know who these "anonymou...Why do I feel like I know who these "anonymous" posters complaining about their tax rate are.<br /><br /> I assume they're also petitioning VDOT to cease that expensive "paving" of Loudoun County roads that's been all the rage. And the School Board for not making uber cost-effective homeschooling mandatory.<br /><br /> What's important, after all, is the tax rate.Matthew Osbornnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-69243574737220556942012-05-02T08:07:48.506-04:002012-05-02T08:07:48.506-04:00Right-wing Anti-union? I didn't pick up that ...Right-wing Anti-union? I didn't pick up that this was said in jest.<br /><br />If MWAA would just follow Virginia law instead of giving union companies an additiional 10% in revenue, just because they are union, then the cost, although still astronomical, would be lower.<br /><br />MWAA has made many mistakes, being the political appointed board it is with each memeber having their own agenda, this being one of its biggest, except for the idea of building a $3 million board room to celebrate their power. Thankfully, that was nixed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-62816160977359500092012-05-01T19:05:00.542-04:002012-05-01T19:05:00.542-04:00What has or should be a project for common good ha...What has or should be a project for common good has turned into a political feast/fiasco for both parties. Quite a show.<br /><br />The Fairfax BOS is too far to the left, the Loudoun BOS is too far to the right.<br /><br />All we need is a metro extension, not any of extras both sides want to add. Incredible! How difficult can that be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-79352696018063921882012-05-01T18:51:50.729-04:002012-05-01T18:51:50.729-04:00Dulles Rail proponents have refused to provide fun...Dulles Rail proponents have refused to provide fundamental facts about projected demand for riding the Phase 2 rail to nowhere and the economic and financial consequences of the project. The claimed project economic benefits are not grounded in reality but instead are nothing but "smart growth" hype.<br /><br />Even long planned projects in Tysons Corner are falling apart -see Monday's Washington Post.Some major Tysons Partnership members have been unable to agree on funding infrastructure costs.<br /><br />Guess who they want to pay most of the projected $3 billion in costs in the next 20 years. <br /><br />Wait until the horse manure hits the roof later this year when the Reston Master Plan is presented to the County Planning Commission. Based on Tysons experience, we won't know the costs to taxpayers until long after the plan is approved.<br /><br />Dulles Rail is a boondoggle to enrich landowners in Tysons and the Dulles Corridor plus a massive transfer of our income to benefit residents in Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church, DC and Maryland who are not paying the capital costs.<br /><br />The operating deficits of WMATA will continue to escalate due to the continued refusal of WMATA board to raise fares adequately to cover costs. WMATA has no viable plan to fund the presently estimated $13.3 billion needed in capital replacement costs for the original 103 mile system over the next decade.<br /><br />Guess who they expect to pay most of the costs? The riders? The federal government? Richmond, Washington DC and Annapolis? The Dulles Toll Road users? <br /><br />No, Fairfax County residents and business plus other local taxpayers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-26199237746666150362012-05-01T16:22:15.905-04:002012-05-01T16:22:15.905-04:00Maybe when they revive the project in 10 years the...Maybe when they revive the project in 10 years they'll have the common sense to put the airport station underground where it belongs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-76923527675188748572012-05-01T16:20:26.904-04:002012-05-01T16:20:26.904-04:00Let me make sure I understand this: a county that ...Let me make sure I understand this: a county that features a Confederate Civil War soldier standing guard with a rifle pointed at every Yankee and recently freed slave to remind them of their place in the highest AMI tech capital county in America, a county that still hasn't received the telegram that war actually ended a few years ago, objects to entering the 21st century via rail?<br /><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003233.html<br /><br />No way. I can't believe it. They can't be THAT far behind the time, can they?<br /><br />Will some one please notify the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that the Titanic will not be arriving in port on time...in case any of them have any friends or relatives on board.Mean Daddy Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412900754136064810.post-5213777046045373672012-05-01T14:28:02.654-04:002012-05-01T14:28:02.654-04:00"... Silver Line must reach the airport for t..."... Silver Line must reach the airport for the sake of the region, the state and the nation."<br /><br /><br />Wait, the fate of the entire nation rests (at least partially) in the hands of our Earth-tone paradise?<br /><br />We're doomed...DOOMED!WarpSpeedScottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348727866947513071noreply@blogger.com