RestonWeb

[Bob Bruhns]

I received this by e-mail from US Congressman Frank Wolf.
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Important Transportation Updates: Please Forward to a Friend
March 04, 2011

Dear Friends,

I would like to share several updates on issues of importance to our Congressional district.

Federal Government Funding for FY11

In an effort to create a better environment for job creation by reducing spending that future generations cannot afford, the House passed legislation that would, according to the House Republican Conference, cut $100 billion from non-security, discretionary spending accounts over the next seven months. While it is important to eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending, and reduce overall domestic discretionary spending, we will only continue to tilt at windmills with the budget ledger and tinker around the edges if we don’t deal with mandatory or entitlement spending.

I’ve been working for five years trying to get the Congress and the previous and current administrations to come together to deal with the now over $62 trillion in unfunded liabilities in entitlement programs. We can no longer afford to kick the can down the road. The cuts passed by Congress last week are an important first step, but they are only that - a first step. Without serious reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security we will never be able to truly get our fiscal house in order.

Local Transportation Projects

Dulles Rail
Last month I asked the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to perform an annual audit of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Extension project to help prevent cost overruns and help ensure the project is completed on schedule.

In a letter to DOT Inspector General (IG) Calvin Scovel, Rep. Tom Latham, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and I requested an annual audit of phase 1, which is ongoing, and phase 2 of the project, for which bids are to be let in March.

Past experience with major transportation projects has shown me that the effort to save money and prevent cost overruns must be implemented early in a projects life to truly be effective. I want to ensure that Dulles Rail is done well, done on time, and done on or under original cost estimates. It is imperative that all project decisions are made with the primary focus on keeping overall costs at a minimum.

I-66
I am pleased to report that the Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road slip ramps onto I-66 are now open to all traffic during non-HOV hours. As part of an ongoing effort to improve traffic flow in the I-66 corridor, I have been working with Governor Bob McDonnell, Fairfax County Supervisors Pat Herrity and Mike Frey and state Delegate Jim LeMunyon to reduce congestion.

Following an April 2010 town hall meeting focusing specifically on finding traffic flow improvements on I-66, I called FHWA (spell-out) Administrator Victor Mendez and urged his personal involvement. Mendez travelled to Virginia to meet with VDOT officials last July and I helped push the changes through the agency. This is a great example of effective collaboration among federal, state and local government to reach a shared goal.

Dulles Greenway
Two weeks ago the Virginia Department of Transportation announced it will create a Dulles Greenway Advisory Committee to examine ways to make the road more user-friendly and hopefully come up with a way to address the ever-increasing tolls. I suggested such a committee be created last July. The commission will be made up of representatives from area homeowners associations and businesses as well as local officials in Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick counties and the City of Winchester. I believe this advisory panel is the best way to ensure interested parties have a way to voice their concerns.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
In light of a recent editorial in the Washington Post that raised a number of questions surrounding the search for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s (MWAA) new chief executive, I have asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of MWAA operations.

25 years ago I helped create MWAA as the local operating authority for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Both of these airports are critically important to economic growth and jobs in the National Capitol region. The public must be confident that the authority overseeing these two airports is operating responsibly, with transparency and efficiency, and consistent with best practices in the industry. I believe this request will ensure the success of the airports for another 25 years.

Frank R. Wolf


Office Locations:

Washington Office
241 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5136
(202) 225-0437 fax

Herndon Office
13873 Park Center Rd Ste.130
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 709-5800 or
(800) 945-9653 in state
(703) 709-5802 fax

Winchester Office
110 N. Cameron St.
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-0990 or
(800) 850-3463 in state
(540) 678-0402 fax
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Government debt and deficits are robbing your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren. http://www.usdebtclock.org/