Investing in the Extension to Lessen the Congestion And other Benefits to Extending Metro out to Dulles

Extending the Metro to Dulles will improve the lives of those living and working in northern Virginia

Improvements from extending the Metro Reduced traffic Improved mobility of citizens Economic expansion

Traffic Problems Today Excess fuel burned by congestion up twelve percent between Congestion costs up fifteen percent between 2000 – 2003 Population in Loudon Count expected to increase thirty-six percent by 2010 (Mobility Study)

Why Extend the Metro The Dulles Extension will carry the equivalent of four highway lanes of traffic on the Dulles Toll Road Each train can get 500 vehicles off the road Sixty-three percent of Dulles Toll Road drivers said they would probably use the Metro if it were available (Toll Study)

Other Benefits to the Dulles Extension Stimulate economic growth around the metro stations Encourage high dense growth areas near the stations Eliminate the need for some families to have two cars Close access to more affordable housing

Study results of extending the METRA The KRM line will reduce traffic by four to twelve percent along I-94 between Milwaukee and Racine 150,000 jobs are anticipated along the thirty-three mile long extension Dense growth is expected along the route Improved access to the Chicago market is expected to promote economic growth (Southeastern Wisconsin)

How DART helped Dallas DART carries the equivalent of two highway lanes of traffic on the Central Expressway $3.3 billion of investment has occurred along the forty-five mile line Property values increased twenty-five percent more near the DART stations verses other areas Office building values increased at twice the rate as other areas Concentrated growth has occurred around the DART stations (Schnurman)

Comparison The Dulles Extension has many of the same goals as the KRM extension Both projects hope to reduce traffic congestion while controlling growth and helping the economy DART has done both in Dallas

Comparison con’t Each metro area is considered a large metropolitan area and each extension is between twenty-five and forty-five miles long.

Assumptions If it works in Dallas, it can work here The projections for the Wisconsin extension can hold true for the Dulles extension

Conclusion The Dulles Extension of the Metrorail will improve the lives of those living and working in northern Virginia by reducing the amount of cars on the road, encouraging responsible growth, and helping the economy.

Works Cited Davenport, James.”Metro to Dulles Makes Sense.”The Washington Times 24 Aug Oct 2005 pA16 “Preliminary Engineering Estimate for Phase 1 Released.” Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 10 Aug Nov Schnurman, Mitchell. “A new argument for mass transit.”Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Texas. 2 Oct Oct 2005

Works Cited (con’t) “Southeastern Wisconsin – KRM Commuter Rail”1000 Friends of Wisconsin. 7 Mar Nov “Toll Study.” Virginia Department of Transportation. 8 Feb Nov 2005