With a final vote on Phase Two of rail to Dulles coming from the Loudoun Supervisors Tuesday, several members of the Virginia General Assembly representing Loudoun County provided the Times-Mirror their views on the $5.5 billion project that will extend Metrorail into Loudoun.

The Times-Mirror sent the following question to every state delegate and senator representing Loudoun County: “If you were sitting on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors July 3, facing a yes or no decision on Metro into Loudoun as currently planned, how would you vote and why?”

Several responses are below, followed by additional comments from two delegates:

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th): “I would vote to approve the plan, provided it is financed without additional toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road. Future Metro riders, especially Dulles Airport travelers, should bear a greater financial responsibility for the cost of the Silver Line than is currently planned.”

Del. Joe May (R-33rd): “As a member of the Loudoun board, I would vote “yes” if I were satisfied with the economic and public policy answers. From my point of view, the justification for Loudoun opting into the Silver Line to accommodate traffic to Dulles and to accommodate non-Dulles commuters from Loudoun appears to be on solid ground. In the aggregate, I support rail to Dulles and service into Loudoun County.”

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31st): “I would vote ‘yes’ for Metro into Loudoun. Investing in transit infrastructure, such as Metro, brings jobs while minimizing the impact on roads and congestion. It allows for higher-density, mixed-use development, whereby the real estate revenue from commercial properties would keep residential real estate taxes low, and brings more amenities to the county.”

Sen. Mark Herring (D-33rd): “I served on the Board of Supervisors. I voted for rail then, and I continue to advocate for it now. It will provide residents with commuting options, promote economic development, diversify our tax base, and connect Loudoun to our nation’s capital and the global economy. It is an investment in our future.”

State Sens. Dick Black (R-13th) and Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-27th),  and Dels. Randy Minchew (R-10th), Barbara Comstock (R–34th) and Tag Greason (R-32nd) did not respond the Dulles rail question.

Dels. Tom Rust (R- 86th) and David Ramadan (R-87th) have previously provided their views to to the Times-Mirror on the Silver Line project. 

Rust addressed Loudoun supervisors during their meeting June 18, during which he stated the Silver Line extension is “an economic development initiative that will produce in my opinion real property values and real real estate values and real business tax purposes. It will support east-west traffic, provide more access, provide alternatives and it’s equivalent of four lanes in each direction ... It will provide Loudoun businesses access to the employment pools throughout the Metropolitan area. And it will be in my opinion a major factor for retention and attraction of quality employees. It will allow for growth while minimizing the carbon footprint ...

“I would strongly urge you to support [the Silver Line],” Rust said.

For a separate Times-Mirror story, Ramadan recently stated he thinks “Metro to Loudoun is essential for two things. It serves a major traffic issue we are dealing with. The average citizen spends three hours a day on the road it’s unacceptable. Also it is without a doubt an economy opportunity for Loudoun. In my mind it will be very positive.”