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Local VRE board members optimistic about approving Spotsylvania's proposed concessions to join rail service Date published: 8/21/2009
By DAN TELVOCK Two members of the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board say they think the board will approve concessions Spotsylvania County officials want in an agreement to join the commuter-rail service. Paul Milde, a Stafford County supervisor and VRE board member, said he hopes the entire board approves the concessions by Nov. 30, which would clear the way for Spotsylvania to join VRE. "[The concessions] have already been vetted by the CEO and the operations board has a copy of the changes," he said. "This may not be perfect, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. This is the closest we've ever gotten to having our southern brother officially in the system, and I am happy for that." Fredericksburg City Councilman Matt Kelly, a VRE board member, said he has not heard any feedback from members from the other eight VRE member jurisdictions, but he is "confident we can work with the agreement as has been negotiated." On Tuesday night, supervisors narrowly agreed to join VRE but postponed the date the county would do so from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15. That date is important because it is almost a month after supervisors elected to board seats on the November ballot take office. D.J. McGuire, a Republican who opposes joining VRE, is challenging Gary Skinner, who was instrumental in getting the agreement approved on a 4-3 vote after a 3 -hour public hearing. Supervisor Benjamin Pitts, who voted for the VRE agreement, is being challenged by Chris Yakabouski, a Republican who opposes joining VRE. If either Yakabouski or McGuire wins, he could try to reverse the vote. But Milde said he doesn't think campaigning against VRE would be a smart move by his fellow Republicans.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 8/21/2009
the pro-VRE folks, the van/bus folks, and the locally working
folks.
So.. can Pitts/Skinner win in their respective districts without
some support from the other two groups?
What would Pitts/Skinner offer these other groups to secure
their support?
It might be interesting... or you know.. there's a chance that
this might become a non-issue .. if they believe the
proponents view that even after the tax is imposed, it won't
affect the price of gasoline.
Here is a map showing the Lee Hill and the Battlefield district boundaries... I guess if you don't live there you can start calling your friends who do! http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/emplibrary/LeeHillVotingDistricts.pdf
Probably. It takes me about 10 minutes to drive from Fred to my house in the evening. Sometimes if I leave the parking lot at the same time the train pulls away, I'm getting out of my car in front of my house at the same time that I hear the train pull into the yard. So the train that leaves at 4:45 woud get to a Crossroads station at about 6:30. That being said, I don't know of anyone (including myself) who rides because it's faster than driving; it's just less stressful and cheaper (still) than driving.
Except that so many folks just want to pick and choose what to say and what to support. Even facts are approached two different ways in order to further one point or the other. For example: Pro says, An extra gas tax is a little more. Against says, an extra gas tax is a lot more: bottom line, there's a gas tax. But the viewpoints are 180 degrees from each other.
more people to clog up the ailes and get in my way. At least the spotsy people can go to their own lot instead of crowding Fredericksburg. Should be an hour and a half ride or more from DC to spotsy
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