Tysons Tunnel Could Risk U.S. Funds

But even if a tunnel is found to cost more, its supporters say, there are ways to satisfy the federal government.

They note that the Washington airports authority is in the process of assuming control of the project from the state and that it is possible that the authority might decide to combine the two phases of the project into one. That, they say, could conceivably change the cost-effectiveness equation enough to allow for a tunnel. Tunnel skeptics reject this, noting that the second half of the project is expected to generate fewer riders than the first.

Tunnel supporters also note that it is not unheard of for major infrastructure projects to proceed despite not being deemed cost-effective. "There's a way around that sort of legislation. It's not drafted to thwart an effective project like this," said Donna P. Shafer, a senior vice president with the WestGroup, a major Tysons landowner. "I know from other instances that there have been ways to deal with it."

Fairfax Supervisor T. Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) said he hoped the region's congressional delegation would make the argument that investing extra money for a tunnel would pay off in ways not captured in the federal formula, such as allowing for better use of the above-ground space at Tysons. Congress recently directed the FTA to take land use into greater account in its formula, but those changes probably will take a year or two to take shape.

"How do you measure the immediate effectiveness and value of what is basically the opportunity to totally redo Tysons Corner?" asked Kauffman, who is also on the Metro board.

"I hope congressional intercession could free us to do the right thing."

Tunnel skeptics say this is an unrealistic expectation, given that Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) already intervened on the project's behalf to keep it from having to meet even tougher cost-effectiveness standards introduced last year.

Wolf declined to comment, saying through a spokesman that the tunnel is the state's call.

Jeffrey Booth, a Washington lawyer who heads up a nationwide group of officials who deal with the FTA, said that when it comes to mass transit, Congress takes the FTA's ratings very seriously, even with the inevitable lobbying.

"Appropriations committees have focused very much on cost effectiveness," he said. "In the decisions they've made about projects to fund, they've focused on that measure."