Both John61 and Katiebear make good points. What we are talking about is a ?modern day re-discovering of the wheel?. Gee, there was rail from Rosslyn (Key Bridge) thru Leesburg to Bluemont in the 20's, 30' and 40's. What now remains of this rail are sections of a flat 45 mile rail-bed that is a bike/jogging/running path through Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun. As John61 points out the projected cost is outrageous with increased taxes, fees and assessments. As Katiebear points out MetroRail is (and has been needed) to Dulles. If construction was started 15 years ago, we would not be where we are now.

Another part of what Virginia, DC and Maryland really needs is an outer beltway and/or a regional bypass to bypass North-South bound truck and other long-haul traffic outside of the current 495/95 beltway. Take that traffic off the beltway and the current number of lanes will be good for the next 20 years.

John61 makes another important point: Electric (derived from coal generation plants) is needed to run the rail and feed the construction sprawl. ?Coal is one of the worst things for the environment.? The US is way behind in bringing on-line next-generation nuclear power plants. The average American will not understand this until they go to the light switch and nothing happens. On the other hand it may be better, in the short-run, to burn American coal rather than imported petroleum. But nuclear power is the long-term answer.