Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York addressed local business leaders and constituents Friday at the annual “State of the County,” in which he continued to lobby for extending Metrorail services into Loudoun County.
While York (R-At Large) opened with the highlights of Loudoun—an unemployment rate that’s the “envy of the world,” an average household income of approximately $120,000, an international airport, dynamic businesses and “D.C.‘s Wine Country” status – the looming decision on Dulles Rail weighed heavily in his remarks at the Dulles Airport Hilton.
Indeed the chairman wouldn’t say “what the vote’s going to be,” but he optimistically stated, “I think the train’s heading in the right direction.”
The all-Republican Board of Supervisors – seven of which are in their first term—must decide by July 4 whether to proceed as a funding partner for Phase Two of Rail to Dulles, which will extend Metro into Loudoun County’s Ashburn. The project’s cost remains heavily scrutinized, and Loudoun’s decision is being watched across the region and state.
“All eyes are on us,” York told the crowd of approximately 115.
The chairman voiced that Metrorail is necessary on a number of fronts: to get people and workers into and out of the county, to grow businesses and plan for the future.
“We can’t expand Route 50 … we can’t expand the toll road … Route 7 can have one lane going east and one lane going west. We have no ability to add capacity,” he said. “Rail will get us to all points in the region.”
Without rail, new and existing businesses will opt for locations with sufficient transportation capacity, York said.
“We certainly don’t want to do what we’ve been doing for the past 15 years, and that is watch Fairfax County develop dramatically and we’re paying for their employee’s children to be educated.”
Supervisor Ken Reid (R-Leesburg), who was in the audience, chimed in during the question and answer portion, saying there will still be a station at Route 28 and Reston Parkway. In his first five months on the board, Reid has been a vocal opponent for Phase Two of the Rail to Dulles.
York quickly responded – “Hey, Ken, they’re not being developed for commuters. That’s the problem.”
The board will hold another Metro financing meeting June 14.
“As I’ve said in the past, I firmly believe at the end of the day this board will make the right decision,” York said.
On the announcement this week that the Washington Redskins are moving their training camp from their headquarters in Loudoun County to Richmond in 2013, York said it was in fact a collaborative effort with Gov. Bob McDonnell (and other parties) to keep the NFL franchise’s operations in Virginia.
“They were being recruited both by D.C. and by Maryland with significant money to move their headquarters out of Virginia,” he said.
Loudoun County will spend $2 million to partner with the Redskins to promote Loudoun County, with the relationship spanning eight years initially, York said.
“We know that the Redskins are committed to Loudoun County for a minimum of eight years. They are investing a lot of money into upgrading their facility our there at Redskin Park,” said York. “Even though we lose training camp to Richmond, the bigger benefit is that they stay in Loudoun County, their players stay in Loudoun County … there are millionaires spending money in Loudoun County.”
High-profile attendees of Friday’s Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event included Supervisors Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge), Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn), Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) and Reid; Virginia Del. Joe May (R-33); Mayor of Purcellville Bob Lazaro; Loudoun County Public Schools board chairman Eric Hornberger and Superintendent Ed Hatrick; and Loudoun County Commissioner of Revenue Bob Wertz.
York informed the room of business people that while the board cut or maintained spending levels within most items of the budget, public safety and economic development received a boost. In adopting the county’s fiscal 2013 budget, the board dropped tax rate from $1.28 per $100 of assessed value to $1.235 per $100.
 | Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York referred to Dulles Rail as the "gorilla in the room" during Friday's "State of the County" address. Times-Mirror photo/Trevor Baratko |
Billionaire Dan Snyder must be forgiven for his $6 million extortion of Virginia taxpayers to keep the Washington Redskins in Loudoun County. It is in his nature. Making money—he has increased Redskins profits by $100 million a year—surfaced in his DNA as a teenager.
More questionable, however, is the Republican political establishment’s backroom dealing that Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell proclaims as another “business friendly,” gift to the unneedy. He promised Snyder $4 million in state funds as part of secret negotiations lasting more than a year.
And, there wasn’t a peep from the all-Republican line up on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors about its decision to slip Dan $2 million in declining county revenues. This is the same bunch cut the School Board’s budget request by $22 million and banned any raises for county employees.
Something between goofy and giddy must seize the emotions of these purported deficit warriors when the owner of the richest professional football team demands the money or… Or what? Move to the District? Or Prince Georges? It seems like Democratic leaders have pocketed most of the loose cash in those venues.
Don’t blame The Danny. Look to the men and women who were elected on pledges of ending dubious welfare programs.
@Skyprince - The tracks will go in two directions. It’s not only about commuters leaving Loudoun in the morning. It’s also about creating infrastructure that employers will find attractive. In case you didn’t watch the hearing on Loudoun.gov last week in Leesburg, the vast majority of speakers were for rail. The anti-rail voices are very much the minority. You’re welcome to your opinion, but please accept the fact that you are very much in the minority.
York and his Thugplicans cannot have it both ways. They say they want to develop job WITHIN the county, but also want rail to take people OUT of the county. So typical of the BOS who are cleary in the pocket of the big dollar developers. Who else benefits from rail in Loudoun? The few who will take it, or the businesses near the station stops? How will this help people in Leesburg, P’ville, R’hill etc? No one is going to drive to Ashburn Silver Line station and then sit on the train for an hour. Why not do the right thing and have a full and open referendum and see what people really think? Not the 70 or show who show up at the Town Hall public meeting or the BOS who are making decisions that will bog the county down for years. Spend for schools, that help all, not rail for the precious few. Do the right thing, say NO to rail. If MWAA and Metro want it so much, get with the developers, and build it yourself.
Scott York is not misleading anyone. Jack Potter at MWAA has been abundantly clear in his statements about IAD not having capacity for commuters.
From another source:
“We do not like the thought of our station being the last station on the line,” MWAA Chief Jack Potter told his board of directors during a meeting Wednesday. “We do not have the ability, long term, to accommodate commuters on this airport property.”
I thought Reston andRoute 28 were multi use stations?
This is a wonderful opportunity for Loudoun County. I can’t wait. Yes to Metro!
I see that Mr. York was in a big hurry to mislead the people of Loudoun County. Actually, the Rt 28 and Herndon stations ARE being planned for commuters.
Gee, why would Mr. York want to mislead people about that? Ohhhh, right, he wouldnt want FACTS to get in the way of the bogus pro-rail story.
People in Loudoun County really need to wake up.
Give me a cost projection for Virginia taxpayers that is not plus $100 million here or there. Make a firm commitment of so much money and then let the MWAA fall on their own sword so to speak if there are overruns on costs. People complain about our taxes going to Richmond and not being used for transportation in Northern Virginia. Where are the safeguards that Northern Virginia money will be spent here. Haven’t heard any private companies pony up to build the parking garages at a cost of $135 million, opps price for metro just went up! The price increase on the rail cars of $1.4 million dollars if we buy a hundred cars that’s 140 million dollar increase, if that isn’t bad business it sure is poor business. 3 guesses who foots the bill.
Thank You Mr. York! So excited about the future of Loudoun…go metro!!
Love this! So much opportunity for Loudoun, for the region. Yes to Metro!
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