Transportation issues dominated discussions at the Tom and Gerry show — part of the Mantua Citizens Association meeting Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Rep. Tom Davis (R-11) and Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, hosted the talk in Connolly’s Mantua neighborhood. The main point of the evening was to get Richmond to get into the drivers seat in Northern Virginia.
“I’ve never seen an issue this overdue,” said Davis. “These are just basic things government needs to provide.”
Davis’ wife, Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-34), represents a portion of Fairfax County and is a sponsor of several Northern Virginia transportation bills. If something isn’t accomplished in Richmond this session, Davis said there is going to be some finger-pointing.
“We’re doing our part,” said Connolly. “We cannot accept the state not doing their part.”
As for partisan politics in Richmond, Connolly and Davis said they hoped other politicians can follow their lead in team work. While they agree they have some differences of opinion and ideology, they are trying to come together to solve important problems in the region. But politics aren’t exactly tabled either.
“We can’t work together on everything,” said Davis. “There are philosophical differences between the parties.”
The days of a two-party system acting as a stabilizing force are over, said Davis. Now it’s proving to be a road block. John Jennison, president of the Mantua Citizens Association, said the step toward bipartisanship — at least on Davis and Connolly’s parts — is a lead Richmond needs to follow. He said the majority of the more than 60 people in attendance at the meeting were satisfied with what they heard.
“The problem now is in Richmond in getting it done,” said Jennison. “Everyone would like to see partisan politics put aside. I think everyone wishes Richmond would take a cue from these guys.”
AN ELECTION YEAR — which includes every seat in the General Assembly and all major Fairfax County elected seats — has created a sense of urgency, both locally and in Richmond. Del. Dave Marsden (D-41), Del. David Bulova (D-37) and Devolites Davis have all said that transportation in the number one issue and priority in Richmond right now. They are frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the rest of the state and need support where it has been lacking in order to pass significant transportation legislation. All that the majority of Northern Virginia General Assembly members want is the opportunity to allow Northern Virginia to help itself, rather than a statewide solution, said Bulova.
“One size does not fit all,” said Connolly. “What’s wrong with Fairfax deciding its own fate?”
Both Connolly and Davis agreed that rail to Dulles is essential, which is why Jennison thought it was appropriate for the two politicians to host the meeting in Mantua. Members of the Mantua Citizens Association voted to register as an organization that supports the views of Tysonstunnel.org — a coalition of citizens, business leaders and the McLean Chamber of Commerce formed to support a fair bidding process in the project, in addition to reopening the consideration for the tunnel under Tysons Corner.
“Everybody understood the cooperation and collaboration needed by our federal officials and our local officials to accomplish the common good of getting the transportation problems solved,” said Jennison, after the meeting.
As for the tunnel, the $900 million available in federal funding could disappear if the tunnel option is seriously reconsidered, according to Davis. A bid for above ground rail was passed in 2002, and the federal government is likely to contribute the $900 million — or half of the total cost — to the project so ground can be broken sometime this year. A quarter of the money would come from the county and the other quarter from the state.
“If we don’t get the federal $900 million, we’re dead in the water with this project,” said Connolly.
A reconsideration of the tunnel, however, could risk just that, including a 1 percent inflation rate per month that would send other costs way up, said Davis. Every year there is a delay, costs are estimated to go up by about $67 million, said Connolly. Many other jurisdictions in the country would happily accept the federal money, he said.
“The governor has made the decision; I support the governor,” said Davis.
The Tysons Land Use Task Force conducted a meeting for the Providence District, Wednesday, Jan. 24, after the Connection's deadline. The Fairfax County Planning Commission will have a public hearing about transit-oriented development on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m., in the Board Auditorium at the government center, 12000 Government Center Parkway.