Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – August 24, 2005

COMMENTARY

More than 70 percent of commuters who use Route 7 and the Dulles Toll Road corridor consider the extension of Metrorail to Dulles to be their highest transportation improvement priority, according to a scientific poll conducted for the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority last month. The corridor was one of eight in Northern Virginia in which commuter attitudes were measured. A consistent theme across all corridors was a not unexpected high level of frustration with traffic and their commute. Surprising for some was the strong support for mass transit in every corridor and a willingness to pay for mass transit over road improvements.

When everyone surveyed was asked what general types of transportation improvements they supported, 50 percent gave public transportation their highest priority compared to 28 percent for road and highway improvements. When first and second priorities are combined, commuters favored public transportation over roads and highways by 74 percent to 51 percent. Lowest priority among possible transportation improvements was HOV lanes. Almost half of those who do not use transit now said that public transportation is their top priority.

When asked how transportation improvements should be paid for, respondents favored increasing the sales tax over any other kind of revenue source. Voters in the Reston area voted in favor of a sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements in the 2002 referendum. Seventy percent of respondents said they would support having tolls on a highway if they knew the money was going for transportation improvements in that corridor.

While some political pundits may wish to continue to debate the extension of Metrorail to Dulles, the results of the survey suggest that the public has made up its mind. To see the details of the survey, visit www.transaction2030.com and click on “View Public Opinion Questionnaire Survey and Results.” 

Meanwhile, the managers of the Metrorail extension in the Dulles Corridor have established $1.8 billion as the price of the first phase of the project. An earlier “guesstimate” of the cost of the first phase was $1.5 billion, but that number was arrived at before any engineering and before the sharp increases in the prices of concrete and steel. The private firm doing the preliminary engineering had suggested a range of options and features for the extension costing from $1.7 to $2.4 billion. There was some mistaken reporting that the price had increased to the highest option, but it never had. Even the most recently announced price is subject to being negotiated downward when the construction contract is written.

Please share your views with me on transportation or other issues at kenplum@aol.com.

Delegate Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum (D-Reston) has been presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Association of Adult Continuing Education (VAACE).

Plum served nearly 30 years as the director of adult education for Fairfax County Public Schools before his retirement in 1996. He is recognized statewide for his vision, leadership and advocacy for adult education which the award recognizes.

Plum built the adult education program in Fairfax County to be one of the largest if not the largest public school adult education programs in the country. Innovations he introduced in the program were copied nationally.

Reflecting Plum’s statewide influence, the award was presented by Robert MacGilivray, a staff member of the State Department of Education representing VAACE.

The award was presented during the graduation ceremony for the adult high school, external diploma and GED testing program at Woodson High School. Plum was instrumental in starting and expanding all of these alternatives that adults can use to finish high school.

Recently the State Board of Education reappointed Plum to its Advisory Council on Adult Education. Plum is a charter member of the Advisory Council and of the Virginia Literacy Foundation.

A “Guide to Constituent Services” brochure has been mailed to all voter households in the 36th legislative district by Delegate Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum.

“I believe constituent services are among the most important functions of my legislative office,” Plum said. “I can oftentimes get results that individuals are not able to get on their own.”

The brochure lists examples of legislative, constituent and public services available through Plum’s legislative office. It also includes information on subscribing to Plum’s weekly Virginia E-News.

To secure an individual copy of the “Guide” or multiple copies to distribute to others, call Plum’s office weekday mornings at 703.758.9733 or email kenplum@aol.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join the Voter Registration Drive, Saturday August 27th and Sunday August 28th – Join other Reston volunteers to help sign-up new voters in the area. Meet in the Community Room at the Reston Regional Library either day at 2:30 p.m. for information and supplies. Volunteers will be sent to stations outside grocery stores around Reston. Call Allison Dickert for more information, 571-213-8578.

This Sunday, August 28, there will be a statewide series of “Raise the Roof” house parties for Tim Kaine. Everyone is encouraged to attend one of these free events. They will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at a supporter’s home near you. Each party will be a part of a statewide conference call with Tim Kaine. For more information, visit www.kaine2005.org or call 703.720.2600.

Learn more about long-term care insurance. Are you unsure if you or your loved one would benefit from a long-term care insurance plan? Visit www.seniornavigator.org/vaprovider/consumer/snArticle.do?contentld=425 to learn more. Visit www.seniornavigator.org and type in the topic Long-Term Care and your Zip Code for a listing of insurance companies that offer long-term care insurance.

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board (FA-DSB) conducts a survey every three years to develop ways to assist residents with physical and/or sensory disabilities. This survey will be used by the FA-DSB to develop a Needs Assessment Report. If you feel you have a physical and/or sensory disability, have a family member or serve people with a physical and/or sensory disability, please take the time to fill out the survey at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dsb.

Parents & Associates of the Northern Virginia Training Center and the Fairfax Civitan Club are proud to announce the Fifth Annual Benefit Auction to support citizens with mental retardation complicated by other medical, physical, and behavioral disabilities. Show your support and participate in this fantastic auction on Saturday, September 17, at the Northern Virginia Training Center, 9901 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA. Preview of auction items is at 8:00 a.m. with the Live Auction beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the Silent Auction period running from 8:00 a.m. to noon. 100% of the proceeds of this fantastic auction are used to benefit people with mental retardation. Visit www.parentsandassociatesnvtc.com for more information.

Connect with your community at Volunteeria. The Reston Community Center (RCC) and Reston Association invite you to their annual Volunteeria event on Thursday, September 22, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hunters Woods facility at 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Volunteeria is a volunteer fair. At volunteeria you can recruit volunteers, network with your peers, and increase community awareness of your organization and its mission. Volunteeria is free, but registration is required. To participate, your organization must register no later than August 29. To register and get additional information, contact Anna Dowdell at 703.476.4500, ext. 6160, or email Anna.Dowdell@FairfaxCounty.gov.

Join the MArcH for Virginians with Disabilities on October 1 in Richmond. The Arc of Virginia and its 22 affiliated chapters will March from Mayo Island in Richmond to the Bell Tower on the Capitol Grounds on October 1 to show our elected officials and communities that Virginians with disabilities desire what all Virginians want: A life like yours, a place to call home, access to health care, transportation, an education, a job, recreation, and a safe community. For more information call The Arc of Virginia at 888.604.2677 or visit www.ArcofVa.org.

CALENDAR

Wednesday, August 24, 10:30 p.m. – tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Mary Brown and Nick Abrash, REACT (Reston Environmental Action) – “Mobilizing for a Healthy Environment.”

Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28, 2:30 p.m. – Voter Registration Drive in Reston. See item above for details.

Wednesday through Friday, September 13-15 – Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit in Richmond. Visit www.vsf3.org for information about the Summit.

Saturday, September 17, 8:00 to Noon – Fifth Annual Benefit Auction for the Northern Virginia Training Center. See item above for details.

Tuesday, September 20, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Reception honoring Delegate Ken Plum with Governor Mark R. Warner as special guest at the home of Boofie and Joe O’Gorman, 11570 Greenwich Point Road, North Reston. For more information, call 703.391.2978 or email AllisonDickert@gmail.com.

Thursday, September 22, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Volunteeria at Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. See item above for registration information.

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

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