WASHINGTON – Starting Saturday, you can leave the car behind as you head to shopping malls in Virginia the first part of Metro’s Silver Line will finally open.
But the expansion, the largest in the 40-year history of the D.C. Metro, is plagued with concerns over parking and funding.
Only one of the five new stations — McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East — has a parking garage. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., said this could cause serious problems in the future.
“You want people to use the rail. You want people from out west to come in, go to these sites, park and then get on the rail,” Wolf said. “But if they can’t park, what are people going to do with their cars?”
Grace Tumminelli, marketing manager for Tysons Galleria, said the shopping mall is concerned about commuters stealing spots from shoppers.
“We will take the necessary action to protect our parking lots from any violators so that our customers will continue to enjoy all that Tysons Galleria has to offer,” Tumminelli said in an email.
Wolf predicted Metro and the localities will give in and build parking garages in the next five to 10 years.
But lack of parking wasn’t his only criticism.
Users of the Dulles Toll Road have begun grumbling about higher tolls, which will help fund Phase II of the Silver Line. Drivers are paying $7 round trip instead of the $2.50 they paid five years ago when construction began.
“The greenway (Dulles Toll Road) is highway robbery,” Wolf said. “It’s robbing people without a gun. The cost—I think you’re going to begin to see people complaining about that.”
But Arthur Guzzetti, vice president of policy for the American Public Transportation Association, said it makes sense that local residents are paying for the line.
“The transportation investment is bringing increased value to their properties so it’s their way of getting part of that money to go back to fund the project itself,” Guzzetti said.
Phase II is expected to begin running in 2018 with six stops: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles Airport, Route 606 and Route 772. Reston Town Center and Dulles Airport are the only two Phase II stations without parking options planned.
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