McLean Citizens Association Adopts Resolution Condemning Silver Line Cost Overruns

The McLean Citizens Association is worried about cost overruns associated with Silver Line Metro construction, and the group adopted a resolution on Wednesday night to underscore those concerns.

The board adopted the resolution “Concerns About Cost Increases in the Phase 2 Construction of the Silver Line” unanimously.

Members of the association specifically took issue with the results of an MWAA study suggesting the Dulles Toll Road rate for drivers could eventually increase to $12, forcing commuters off the major highway and onto McLean’s local roads.

“The MWAA toll-rate studies confirm that each increase in the Dulles Toll Road toll produces increasing congestion on the alternative commuter routes and local roads,” the resolution cites.

“That’s really what we’re trying to accomplish—keep them off our roads,” one board member said before adopting the resolution, which concludes that Fairfax County, Loudon County and MWAA need to set a cap on Phase 2 construction costs and any cost overruns should be funded by a source other than Dulles Toll Road tolls.

In other business, the association also adopted a resolution rejecting ’s attempt to reduce its contribution to Tysons Corner transportation infrastructure costs.

The bank, currently in the process of requesting rezoning approval from Fairfax County for its property in Tysons Corner, insists it should pay only $4.07 per square foot for the first 600,000 square feet of new construction, not $6.44 per square foot, the rate in place when the Capital One’s plans were originally approved by the county. The difference amounts to millions of dollars in transportation funding the county stands to lose.

“The county is apoplectic about this. The county does not agree with this and neither do we,” said Mark Zetts, chairman of the association’s planning and zoning committee. “Cap One is really, really holding out on this…. We believe everyone needs to pay their fair share in Tysons and this is the start.”

The resolution concluded, “MCA opposes the reduction of any proffered contribution, by any Tysons rezoning applicant, for transportation improvements as the adequate funding of Tysons’ transportation infrastructure is vital to its success.”

After the meeting, Zetts stressed this is the only aspect of Capital One's re-zoning application that the association does not support.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at the Fairfax County Government Center to discuss “funding for transportation infrastructure in Tysons, including new streets, highways, and transit services.”

The McLean Citizens Association will hold a membership meeting at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the McLean Community Center about funding Tysons Corner transportation improvements.