It has cost the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority $75,000 to cover legal fees of a former board member who is fighting his ouster, The Washington Post reports.
Dennis Martire, a Democratic appointee to the 13-member board, says his removal from the group that is charged with constructing Metrorail's Silver Line is politically motivated.
that Martire damaged his credibility with questionable expenses, including spending nearly $9,200 to travel business class to Europe.
Martire, an official with the Laborers’ International Union of North America, was appointed to the board by the previous governor, Tim Kaine (D).
Martire has clashed with McDonnell over several issues, including a labor-friendly provision as part of the Phase 2 of the Silver Line.
against McDonnell, leaving one seat on the MWAA board vacant as the parties resolve the dispute.
McDonnell has attempted to replace Martire with Caren Merrick, a Republican who lost her run for delegate in the 31st District last fall.
At issue is whether McDonnell had the authority to remove Martire before his term ended. Sec. of Transportation Sean Connaughton told the Washington Post that Martire was removed for his "abuse of ethical issues."
Part of the issue stems from whether expense concerns highlighted by a recent review of the board by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General constitute abuse, despite having been authorized. The entire MWAA board had previously backed the PLA, with the apparent coordination of Virginia Sec. of Transportation Sean Connaughton.
So while the dispute is resolved, Virginia has one less representative on the board.
"We continue to maintain that there is no legal or factual cause for my removal from the board, which is the requirement set forth in federal and Virginia statute," Martire said last week. "The governor once again has failed to present any evidence of cause for removal, and we look forward to moving forward with our case."
Phase 1 of the Silver Line - from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue - is slated to open in late 2013. Phase 2, not yet begun,will run from Reston Parkway to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.
http://notollincrease.blogspot.com/p/sign-petition.html By signing this petition I am saying NO to skyrocketing tolls on the Dulles Toll Road. I want Virginia to take control by putting the Toll Road users first instead of making them the cash cow for other projects. Stop strangling our roads and the region's economy with tolls and traffic congestion. I say NO TOLL INCREASE.
He has valid points that NO ONE seems to hear. YES, we can not have huge new toll increases without huge negative consequences. Yes, our politicians have gone mute since Loudoun signed on and Phase 2 is a go as we feared they would. But, people, IF the total price of the Silver Line can be seriously reduced, the amount that needs to be funded is much less. Therein lays ONE of the factors that can reduce expected outrageous, harmful tolls. Why do none of the cheerleaders and builders of the Silver Line pay attention to this reasoning and give us some clear answers. IN ADDITION, I CAN NOT understand how the final cost of Phase 1 and Phase 2 are estimated to be equal when Phase 1 (covering the roughly same distance as Phase 2) has curving, tunneled, elevated, densely developed TYSONS CORNER challenges and Phase 2 is predominately on grade, straight, and unencumbered. PLEASE, someone explain this AND Bob Bruhns' concerns. We deserve answers; answers that could solve some of our problems... MWAA, Fairfax County BOS, Supervisor Hudgins, Loudoun County BOS, Sec. LaHood, Governor McDonnell, Ken Plum? Bob and I want answers to our questions, please.
Have you ever considered sending an email or letter to Pat Nowakowski to ask for an official explanation on these overcharges?
What Bob should do is say what specific elements of the latest Phase 2 cost estimate are wrong and should be reduced to get down to his estimate. How about for example buying fewer rail cars, single tracking some sections out to Loudoun or not building a station or two. And since Tammie seems to have bought in, perhaps the Reston Association could help Bob spread the truth, that is if the alleged overcharges are really "valid points".
Bob Bruhns has in past posts given very detailed explanations for his statements re: overpricing. One that comes to mind is regarding the costs of parking spaces (they were included before Sec. LaHood did his "magic" price reduction (by foisting them off on Fairfax County = you and me as tax payers.) Recently an article surfaced that indicated that the Commonwealth of Virginia is funding a commuter parking facility in Prince Wm Co. where the price IS 1/2 of what was in our Silver Line plan. Just saying...
I also look forward to Mr. Nowakowski's response to Mr. Bruhns' (a determined opponent of Dullesrail) claim that that the current Phase 2 cost estimate is 2 times what it should be.. and that the Phase 1 actual cost is coming out 2 times what it should have been.