Jim Moran's Plan to Reduce Proposed Metrorail Service to Dulles Appalls Transportation Planners

"Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) is proposing that the rail be built in one phase, from West Falls Church to Loudoun County, but with fewer stations, to significantly lower the cost. He would eliminate one or two of the four proposed stations at Tysons Corner, other stations along the main line and tunneling at Tysons. 'It's the stations that are so expensive,' Moran said.

But his suggestion appalls rail planners, who say that dropping stations would cut ridership, making the project so cost-ineffective that it would lose federal support. Karen J. Rae, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said reducing stations at Tysons Corner, where density is greatest, makes no sense. 'There are four stations scheduled, and people have questioned whether that's enough,' she said. 'If you cut it down to one or two, it's not even viable.'"

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