I see where at least one private equity co, The Carlyle Group, is preliminarily interested in the so-called "Silver Line". Good idea. I hope it goes through. Then, if it does, we'll get a first-class entity at the lowest possible price absent taxpayer $$$$ for the most part. I believe the "government' in this fiasco is so inept as to not be able, after forty years or so, to present a clear, consise, common sense proposal to a rather inept (also!) outfit like the government transportation offices. I'd prefer all rail transit to be financed, planned, built, and run by as much private money as possible. Things get done with business people/adults in charge. Things do not get done with government/bureaucrats in charge. Example: The Silver Line!
c.k.wallace

Posted by scotheart (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't jump on the private equity wagon just yet. That money isn't free. As a matter of fact its at least twice as expensive as exempt government money.

Two issues need to be solved to save the rail project: sole-source delivery and Tysons.

Sole-source delivery: Bechtel has no incentive to get the best available price on the construction. Break up the construction project and force competitive bids. Bechtel can still keep their mark-up and act as program manager, but we need to have competitive bidding of the construction.

Tysons: The stops in Tysons represent a disproportionate share of the rail costs. Likewise, the tax district (County share of funding) is disproportionately funded by businesses outside of Tysons. Potential solution is to bypass Tysons with the heavy rail and come up with a more cost effective (light rail, bus) solution to serve the businesses in Tysons. Let Tysons fund its local system with its share of the tax district and pull them out of the heavy rail tax district altogether. All would benefit.

In the time it would take to do the EIS, etc. for the modified alignment, we could still have Bechtel advancing the Phase 2 design. Then we'd just build the entire Silver line as one phase, bringing service to the airport and Loudoun ahead of current projections.

Posted by TaxpayerBrad (anonymous) on January 29, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)