Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson is taking a lot of heat for turning down federal funding for the Rail-to-Dulles heavy rail project. Critics now are accusing the Bush administration of undermining support for mass transit.
There was a huge concern that the Dulles issue is not unique to this region, that this is an effort on the part of the administration to re-channel funding to other directions,” said Washington Metro General Manger John Catoe, according to the Associated Press.
But Simpson is not backing off his decision. In fact, he’s taken off his boxing gloves and seems ready for some bare-fisted brawling. Northern Virginia ought to stop waiting for “the federal dole,” he said. “The jurisdictions can’t wait for a wing and a prayer for Congress to pass something.”
“Maryland, Virginia and D.C. need to step up to the plate and take care of the state of good repair,” he said, referring to the massive maintenance liabilities the Washington Metro has built up over the years. Adding to a system without being able to take care of what it already has is irresponsible, he told AP. “It’s like the subprime mentality — people don’t care what things really cost.”
Said Simpson: “What this administration is all about is being practical in making investments and not using delusion and illusion to push a mega-project through.”
Sign that man up as a columnist for Bacon’s Rebellion!
