March 12, 2007

The Honorable Timothy Kaine
Governor
Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Governor
PO  Box 1475
Richmond, VA  23218

Dear Governor Kaine:

On behalf of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 1,300 member businesses in Northern Virginia, I write to express our organization’s strongest possible support for the expeditious completion of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project. 

This project is vital to achieving our vision of Loudoun County as a first class business location and international gateway, by allowing the Dulles corridor and Washington Dulles International Airport to reach their full economic potential. That is why the Loudoun County Chamber was a forceful advocate in support of your decision to transfer operation of the Dulles Toll Road and management of the Metrorail project to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

This also is why the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce supports your decision to pursue the aerial alignment for the portion of the rail project in Tysons Corner. Federal officials have made it perfectly clear that pursuing a tunnel alignment would risk federal funding for the project. The federal budget climate makes future funding for transit projects uncertain at best.  Delay puts the entire project at risk.

The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is proud to join with dozens of other Northern Virginia business organizations to support the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project. We urge you to do everything you can to move the Dulles rail project forward.

Sincerely,

 

Brian Chavis
Chairman