FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     November 9, 1999
CONTACT: Patty Nicoson
703/716-5750

(RESTON, VA) – One year after its first Board Meeting, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, is holding its first Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Last year, in response to the growing congestion in the corridor, citizens, community, and business leaders organized the non-profit Dulles Corridor Rail Association to champion rail service in the Dulles Corridor by 2010.

"The continued growth in the corridor coupled with the growth in air passenger traffic at Dulles International Airport and the coming Dulles Center of the National Air and Space Museum heighten the need for high-quality, dependable rail transit" said Virginia Delegate Ken Plum, Chairman of DCRA. "We want to do all that we can to assist decision makers and build community support to make this project a reality."

Delegate Vince Callahan, Vice-Chairman of DCRA said "Rail transportation through the Dulles corridor is absolutely essential to the future economic prosperity and quality of life for all of Northern Virginia. Without rail, development will stagnate and traffic congestion will become unbearable, leading to the flight of businesses from the region and an economic downturn. Essential steps must be taken now to assure that this vital project gets underway

"During the last year much progress has been made in bringing rail to the Corridor" noted Plum, "DCRA held a legislative breakfast for the General Assembly which subsequently endorsed the project and made state funding available for it. Governor Gilmore highlighted Dulles rail as a priority in the state transportation plan, he unveiled this summer, and the Transportation Coordinating Council has included it in the draft Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan as a project to be completed by 2010. Federal and state funds have been earmarked for the project and just last month, the Transportation Planning Board, our regional transportation body, approved regional plans that include the phased Dulles rail transit project for the first time."

During the year, DCRA has testified at regional, state and local forums, met with numerous citizen and business groups, begun a public information campaign, published two newsletters about the project and related activities, written articles for newspapers, developed a web site, established reciprocal relationships with a number of groups

And moved into new office space at Reston International Center. Plans for the coming year include undertaking a public information campaign with the Dulles Area Transportation Association, participating actively in county land use studies, and building membership and community support.

"Everyone we talk to," said Plum, "recognizes the need for rail as an important mobility option for residents, workers, and visitors to the corridor, especially business leaders who recognize good transit access as key to retaining employees." We want to channel that a support and speak as one voice for the community to bring rail to the corridor as soon as possible.

Secretary of Transportation Shirley Ybarra’s Task Force has moved aggressively to implement a four-phase rail project. The first phase, express bus service in the corridor, was doubled in July and enhanced bus service is planned for 2001. Bus Rapid Transit, a bus system operating on a fixed guide way in the median of the Dulles Airport Access road, with stations that can be converted to rail is planned for 2003. Rail will be implemented in two phases between 2006 and 2010.

"Northern Virginia is booming like nowhere else in the country," said Plum "In order to maintain our position as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’, we must have infrastructure that can sustain development. Our goal is to see that this project has broad community support, is able to compete successfully for federal funding, and is implemented on schedule as a model of best planning practices for transit systems in other regions."

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