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	Coalition for Smarter Growth PRESS RELEASE October 28, 2004 Contacts: Laura Olsen, 202-244-4408 or Cheryl Cort, WRN 202-244-1105
Arlington & Fairfax County Bonds Would Provide Key Funding to Improve Metro Service

On November 2, 2004, Fairfax and Arlington County citizens will vote to fund transportation initiatives crucial to Metro service and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), as well as road and pedestrian improvements.

“Metro carries over 700,000 people each day keeping more cars off congested roadways. We urge residents to vote to support Metro and the bond initiatives,” says Laura Olsen, Assistant Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.

Cheryl Cort, Executive Director of the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities noted, “We all see that Metro is suffering from aging and growing pains and we need to do something about it. These bonds will help deliver the money needed to provide the high quality service area residents are used to.”

Details of the Fairfax Bond Initiative
The proposed $165 million Fairfax bond initiative, the first since 1992, officially the Transportation and Improvements Facilities Bond, has three large components. $110 million would provide critical funding to purchase new railcars and buses, rehabilitate and improve WMATA’s bus and rail facilities, and make needed improvements to the system. Funds would also be used to design and build additional parking spaces. This funding would enable Metro to handle the region’s population and growing demand for transit.

The Fairfax bond initiative also includes $50 million for the County’s four-year transportation plan to fund intersection improvements, transit stations, and road widening. $5 million is also included for pedestrian enhancements, including sidewalk construction, improved signage, and safety improvements.

Details of the Arlington Bond Initiative
The Arlington initiatives would raise over $18 million for Metro funding. The referenda would finance Arlington’s contribution to Metro’s efforts for construction and rehabilitation of Metro facilities. In addition, Arlington has a transportation bond initiative to support walking, street lighting, trails and other local projects.

“Metro’s Orange line carries over 52% of the people traveling in the I-66 corridor during rush hour. Transit is a great investment of public dollars and is working for Northern Virginia residents,” said Cort.

Voters Nationally Choose Transit
A recent national study done for Smart Growth America and the National Association of Realtors shows that half of Americans (50%) choose improving public transportation when given three options to solve long-term traffic problems in their states. A third of the public (31%) believes the best answer is developing communities where people do not have to drive long distances, and less than two in ten (18%) believe the answer is building new roads.

“The Realtors’ national poll highlights the citizen consensus on transit funding as a priority,” said Cort. “Locally, we have seen similar support. People want the choices and options that transit offers, to be able to avoid traffic and spend more time with their families.”

Lack of State Funding for Transit
The funds raised with these bonds would supplement funding from the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the federal government. In Virginia, the local jurisdiction do not receive any notable support for transit from the state, unlike in Maryland where the state contributes sizably to transit.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia needs to recognize that transit is a key part of our transportation system and provide adequate funding. The federal transportation money is available to be spent on roads, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but Virginia has provided little money to anything but roads. Local officials and residents are stepping up to pay their share, moving forward the state needs to contribute and level the playing field,” said Olsen.

For more information on the Fairfax bond referendum
For more information on the Arlington bond referendum
To see the referenced American Communities Survey, visit www.smartgrowthamerica.com.

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