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TYSONSTUNNEL EVENT RALLIES COMMUNITY, LEADERS BEHIND CAUSE
Political Leaders, Candidates Say They Will Fight for Tunnel

TYSONS CORNER, VA (May 20) — A TysonsTunnel informational and fundraising event last evening was termed an “unqualified success” by organization President Scott A. Monett, who also announced additional events are planned for the coming weeks to raise community awareness and support for the tunnel campaign.

Despite the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) recent decision to move the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to the final design stage, the nearly 130 supporters and the several prominent political leaders and candidates in attendance were unanimous in their commitment to continuing the call for a tunnel for the Tysons Corner segment of the planned railway.

Public officials who spoke at the event were state Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville). They were joined by two Democratic candidates for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District—Leslie Byrne and Doug Denneny.

“I thank everyone who attended the event for their support and for making this evening an unqualified success,” said Monett. “I applaud Sen. Petersen and Supervisor Foust for their political leadership and for embracing one of the true qualities of being an effective leader: taking a position on an issue because it’s the right thing to do for the community even though it may not be easy. We would not be here today championing the tunnel cause without their steadfast willingness to stand up for and proclaim the practical truth on behalf of their constituents.

“I also thank congressional candidates Leslie Byrne and Doug Denneny for publicly exhibiting their unwavering support for a tunnel and for making a tunnel a key plank in their respective campaign platforms,” continued Monett. “This powerful combination of community and political support will catapult us to our goal of making Tysons Corner a walk-able community by placing Metrorail in a tunnel under this important economic hub.”

In their remarks, the political leaders and rival candidates expressed solidarity on the need to build Metro to Dulles International Airport and on changing the construction approach in Tysons Corner. Here are some of their remarks:

“Where do we go from here?” asked Petersen rhetorically. “We need to project out 50 years and think about the legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren. I’ve never met a project that wasn’t changed at some point. This situation is dynamic; things are changing, leadership is changing. We need to reaffirm our support for a tunnel in Tysons.”

“I still think [a tunnel] can happen,” said Foust. “Changes are constantly made in construction projects, even when the project is 95 percent completed. This one’s still in preliminary design phase so it certainly can be changed. We have to work on whoever we can to make this change happen.”

“It is unfathomable that this project shouldn’t go to Dulles and shouldn’t go through a tunnel under Tysons,” said Denneny. “There is no other way it can be done.”

 “Are we going to build this the right way now or are we going to build it wrong now and have to rebuild it in 50 years?” said Byrne. “We need to be a part of the solution not a part of the problem.”

Preliminary results show that more than $5,000 was raised during the event to support TysonsTunnel’s ongoing campaign. Additional contributions are expected as more residents in the Tysons Corner-McLean-Vienna area step up to support the drive and other events are staged.

Monett announced that additional informational-fundraiser events, the next will be held in Vienna, and a town hall meeting, probably at nearby Marshall High, are tentatively scheduled to occur before July 4. TysonsTunnel will announce the specifics for these events as plans are finalized.

“The one point to be taken from this great event is that the people of Northern Virginia and their brave political leaders are not going to give up this just cause. As Sen. Petersen said, this is Tunnel 2.0 and we will ride the wave of momentum created by this event to reinvigorate our more than 20,000 supporters and our cause to affect the change needed to transform the Dulles rail project to one that all Northern Virginians can proudly support,” said Monett.

“Together with Sen. Petersen, Supervisor Foust, Leslie Byrne and Doug Denneny, I call on all TysonsTunnel supporters to stand with us as we fight for what is right for our community, our shared future and our economic potential,” concluded Monett.

Tysons Tunnel represents an unprecedented coalition of community associations, small businesses, environmental groups, landowners, civic groups, homeowner associations, major corporations and private citizens calling for supporting construction of a tunnel under Tysons Corner as part of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

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