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Just wanted to add my 2 cents. The Post article, especially the headline was ridiculously skewed. The point about hte politics is well-taken -- if a strong majority of Virginians in the districts outside NoVA aren't much interested in the Silver Line, ti's a tough sell in the Legislature.

Yet, that's what leadership is about. If you asked Northern Virginians whether they thought it would be important to widen I-81, you'd get a lot of blank stares. Doesn't mean such a project shouldn't get funding.

The big majorities in Northern Virginia who think the extension is very important is pretty compelling about its utility. Anyone living west or south of Dulles isn't likely to benefit from the line. They won't use it, and it won't even affect traffic on their trips to Dulles, if they ever use the airport. In fact, the majorities in favor of the project within NoVA are pretty impressive. More so, because we could expect that DC residents and maybe even Marylanders would be even more interested in the extension than Virginians for whom driving there isn't as much of a hassle.

For the Post to make a big deal about a majority of Virginians not thinking this is a priority, without making those points is disingenuous, at best. What the poll really showed is what the Post acknowledged in the headline on the jump page -- that opinion is divided based on region.

It might be a tough sell, but real leaders would take on the challenge because this poll actually shows how badly needed the project is.

by Fischy (Ed F.) on May 12, 2012 4:00 pm • link • report