Whereas the Arlington County representative on the Metro Board of Directors, Christopher Zimmerman, has requested comments on this proposal from Arlington County citizens and civic leaders; and

Whereas the Civic Federation's Transportation Committee has considered the Metro Board of Directors' proposal for a new Metro line along the I-66 right-of-way; and

Whereas a plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Light Rail Transit (LRT) for Columbia Pike and Route 7 is in he Northern Virginia 2020 Plan adopted in 1999, and

Whereas LRT for Columbia Pike is in the Metro Transit System Expansion Plan adopted in 1999, and

Whereas a proposal to spend $2 billion for a second line close to the existing Orange Line may not be the best use of Metro resources when:

• much of Arlington County and northern Virginia is not served at all by the Metro system; and
• the noise and other adverse environmental impacts from a multi-level metro line on I-66, and
• the negative impact of future development at the proposed new stops, especially Spout Run, and
• the expense of adding new stations close to existing Metro stops, and
• the threat to the bike trail in the proposed area, and

Any westward expansion of the existing Orange Line should occur only after appropriate increases in the Orange Line's capacity to carry passengers through Rosslyn Station are in place, and

The Federation recommends to the Metro Board of Directors that they consider an alternative new Transit line in Arlington, extending from Falls Church down Route 7 to Bailey's Crossroads, then along Columbia Pike to the Pentagon that would better serve the needs of all residents living Arlington County such as:

• easing congestion on the Ballston-Rossyln corridor,
• introducing Metro service to parts of Falls Church, Fairfax and Arlington Counties that are not now served by the Metro,
• reducing traffic on US Route 50, Lee Highway, I-66 and I-395
• encouraging economic development and associated jobs in South Arlington, avoiding over-saturation with Metro in North Arlington while leaving South Arlington under-served,
• improving access to South Arlington at a time when companies with government contracts can be expected to need office space near the Pentagon and the District,
• reducing traffic on cross-county roads, such as Glebe and George Mason, by providing Metro service in both sides of Arlington County,
• provide direct service between south Arlington and job centers in the Tysons Corner/Dulles corridor.

This page was last revised on: December 27, 2003.