VIRGINIA BRIEFING
VIRGINIA BRIEFING
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METRORAIL EXTENSION
Elevated-Line Foes Sue U.S.
Opponents of an elevated rail line through Tysons Corner have sued the U.S. Department of Transportation, contending that the agency violated federal law by failing to seriously consider the idea of placing the track underground.
The Tysons segment is part of the planned 23-mile Metrorail extension from Falls Church to Dulles International Airport, currently under review by DOT to determine whether it qualifies for federal funding.
Tysons Tunnel Inc., a McLean-based group of Tysons property owners, civic groups and homeowner associations, filed the suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
It was joined as a plaintiff by Ratner Cos., a firm at Route 7 and Spring Hill Road, adjacent to a portion of the proposed elevated line. Opponents of the aboveground line have said that it would hinder the development of Tysons into a mature urban area. The suit said Ratner would suffer from "visual and aesthetic blight" and "negative land use development patterns" created by the elevated tracks.
Tysons Tunnel and Ratner allege that DOT violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to carefully evaluate the proposal for a tunnel, especially in light of new "large bore" tunnel-building technology. They say the new techniques, which use machines that can build tunnels wide enough to accommodate two tracks, would have fewer adverse environmental impacts than an elevated line and reduce the cost.
They also contend that DOT violated its procedures by failing to provide for competitive bidding in awarding the design and construction contract to Dulles Transit Partners.
-- Bill Turque
arlington county
No Big Budget Cuts Required
Some cuts in services and a tax increase may be in the offing in Arlington, but the county's strong revenue base will insulate it from more drastic budget reductions facing other local governments, according to a county report released yesterday.
