Bechtel (and execs & spouses) gave Davis $25K, gave Wolf $9K, and gave Moran $5K. (hat tip: Andrea Chamblee)
There has been a concerted effort by Davis, Wolf, & Moran to distort what the FTA said about federal funding for the Dulles Metrorail extension. They tried to say that switching to a tunnel would jeopardize federal funding. There has also been a concerted effort to squeeze Kaine into rejecting the tunnel option, thus giving a no-bid contract to Bechtel for at least $200 million more. DW&M’s reinterpretations of the FTA’s previous comments were clearly belied by a recent monumental FTA clarification:
“This is a local decision. We’re neutral,” said Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson. “If the governor wishes to reexamine it, he’s free to do that.”
But even before that article from the WaPo today, were the following contrasting, disingenuous statements: FTA: “As the project sponsor, the Commonwealth is free to decide which design option it wishes to pursue.” WaPo about the congressmen: “one of the lawmakers called [the FTA's response, to a query whether a tunnel instead an elevated railway could be used,] a definitive no.”
This kind of campaign donation politics exhibited by Davis, Wolf, and Moran is despicable and representative of what’s wrong with American politics.
More from the new WaPo article:
Davis, who last summer was one of the strongest voices warning about the risks of a tunnel, said last night that the federal officials’ statements raised the possibility that Kaine could still switch plans, if he acted quickly. Davis added that there is still the question of whether a tunnel would cost too much, but he noted that recent estimates by companies proposing a tunnel have placed its cost below the latest estimates for an elevated line.
“It looks like the timing issue could be overcome. It looks like the governor’s got six more weeks, doesn’t it, to [change plans] and still be eligible for funding,” he said. “He’s been handed another hot potato. If you move quickly and things go right, you could in theory meet the timeline.”
Even $25K Davis is thawing! We’re starting to turn the tide!
A spokesman for Wolf said that the decision remains with Kaine.
So Wolf has wisely refrained from taking further action either way. He also refers to the fact that the authority and decision do lie with Kaine, as they have all along.
DW&M were very wrong to pressure Kaine because of campaign contributions, but the wrong decision still lies with Kaine giving in to that pressure. Unfortunately, Kaine still seems resistant to making the right choice for Virginia:
Kaine last week reiterated his decision against a tunnel, citing concerns about losing federal funding. Yesterday, his office referred questions to the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Its director, Matthew O. Tucker, said that even if there is time to change plans and qualify for federal funding, other downsides remain, including potentially higher costs of a tunnel and the delay of waiting another year to begin construction. As it stands, the 23-mile extension from West Falls Church is to begin construction in a year and reach Tysons Corner in 2012 and Dulles in 2015.
“We’ve made a decision about how to build the project,” Tucker said. “When folks talk about the tunnel, what they’re talking about is additional planning and delay.”
Studies and FTA statements have disproven the FUD coming from Kaine’s office:
- There is no danger of losing FTA funding.
- Any planning delay (which would be small; TysonsTunnel.org has already done all the engineering and environmental work; go check out the list of studies they spent $3.5 million commissioning–it’s impressive) would be made up in the tunnel’s shorter construction time.
- The tunnel has been bid for $200 million less than the elevated railway.
I am baffled with Kaine’s continued resistance to a tunnel. We must keep up this effort and pressure to make sure Kaine makes the right decision for Virginia.
As Lowell said this afternoon in an email to me:
I was just in Tysons Corner this morning, and MAN does that place need help! The fact is, though, an elevated rail line is NOT the answer.
How anyone – conservative, liberal, Communist, whatever – could not see this is totally beyond me.
If you want to help, write Kaine a letter or email (and other officials), vote in this WaPo online poll (and correct some of the ignorant comments made), sign the TysonsTunnel.org petition, and sign up for email updates from TysonsTunnel.org (middlish-bottom of page on right side).
Leave a Comment