WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Those opposed to the plan to build rail to Dulles Airport and beyond are trying a new tack to get the attention and votes of local politicians. They obviously took note of the success that opponents to the abusive driver fees had when they gathered tens of thousands of signatures via an online petition. In a recent e-mail, the Dulles Corridor Users Group (DCUG) says, “We are forced to do this, of course, since the pols, who are on the take, won’t take this to the voters via a ballot measure, as is typically done in other areas of the country, despite the fact it’s the largest tax increase in Virginia history: $5 billion. Compare that with $65 million for the abusers fees.”

DCUG is using online survey collection service Petitiononline (www.Petitiononline.com/dullfree), stating: “Petitiononline is an objective way of guageing [sic] voter sentiment since they are a neutral third party, and have built, in safeguards against voting twice.” Interestingly, since DCUG would have to be called a special interest group itself, the e-mail says, “Online surveys by special interest groups are suspect, such as that done by NVTA in the past (supporting massive tax increases for transit) are publicized to biased groups and aren’t as professionally done.” I suppose they mean that the collection and tabulation of the numbers is better if done by an “outside” group.

It will be interesting, given the numerous problems that the Dulles Rail Project is experiencing, to see what comes of this effort. The online survey regarding the abusive driver fees quickly got the attention of the many politicians who are coming up for re-election. If these numbers show that a large number of local residents are opposed to the project, or at least to the taxing element of it, will that force the politicians to change their approach?

Reader response

Jim writes with a valid point in response to my mention of the lack of information coming from Metro vis a vis the added longevity of outdoor escalators where canopies have been installed: “I read your column with interest. WRT the effect of the canopies on the reliability of the escalators, please remember that the escalators were put in place starting in the late 60’s and early 70’s. They have had decades of exposure to the elements, and have been seriously damaged and degraded over that span of time.

“I don’t know when the canopies began to be installed, but some of them were only put in last year (and some others may still be missing in some outlying stations). After all that time, the damage has largely been done and all the maintenance people can do is repair and replace components.

“If the canopies had been part of the original metro design, I suspect that our escalators would be a lot more reliable.”