RK member Gordie wrote Kaine and then posted his Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer’s response. The full letter is below the fold. Here’s part of what he said:
Ihe decision to pursue an aerial structure for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project v as difficult but necessary in order to preserve $900 million in anticipated frderal funding for this project.
Not true. The FTA said: “This is a local decision. We’re neutral. If the governor wishes to reexamine it, he’s free to do that.”
Homer: This critical federal funding is derived from a highly competitive, cost-benefit driven proram
If that is the case, there’s absolutely no doubt we should go with the tunnel! There’s no comparison, from a competition and cost/benefit perspective, between a no-bid, political cronyism contract that’s $200 million more expensive and would do horrendous things to traffic, and an openly bid contract that’s $200 million less and avoids disruption! If the FTA grant relies upon being “highly competitive, cost-benefit driven”, we’d better switch to the tunnel immediately or risk losing FTA funding altogether! Remember, FTA funding is not yet locked in either way.
Homer: …the aerial alignment through much of Tysons Corner and has been formally approved by… Fairfax… Count[y]…
The [Fairfax County] board [of Supervisors] has voted unanimously to urge the state and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to rebid the job and reconsider a tunnel for Tysons.
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Office of the GovernorPierce R. Homer P.O. Box 1475 (804) 786.8032
Secretary ot Transporrarion Richmond, Virginia 23218
Fax: (804) 786-6683
TTY: (800) 828-1120
February 6. 2007Dear Mr. Koerner:
Governor Kaine has asked me to thank you for and respond to your recent correspondence regarding the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.
Ihe decision to pursue an aerial structure for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project v as difficult but necessary in order to preserve $900 million in anticipated frderal funding for this project. This critical federal funding is derived from a highly competitive, cost-benefit driven proram and vill continue to he at risk until a Full Funding Grant Agreement from the Federal transit Administration is secured. In order to successfully compete for this blinding, this project must advance promptly.
Ihe Department of Rail and Public Iransportation is presently in negotiation with Dulles Iransit Partners. To achieve price competitiveness, the Commonwealth and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will use a number of tools including: subcontracting. pricing analysis, and an independent cost estimate. these techniques have been used on a variety of design-build projects throughout the industry and across the Commonwealth. If terms and conditions and a final price cannot he agreed upon, other competing proposals will be solicited.
The final scope of this project from West Falls Church to Loudoun County has been determined by the Federal Transit Administration in a Record of Decision. This final scope includes the aerial alignment through much of Tysons Corner and has been formally approved by the Common wealth Transportation Board. Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
I hope this information is helpful. Thank you again for writing Governor Kaine.
Sincerely.
Pierce R. Homer
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