TysonsTunnel.org is a coalition of the McLean Chamber of Commerce, community and
business leaders, and concerned citizens recently formed with the goal of creating a fair and competitive bidding process for the Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport and reopening consideration of the tunnel under Tysons.

Since the decision by Governor Kaine in September for elevated rail, the number of citizens and civic leaders coming out in favor of a tunnel has been swelling. TysonsTunnel.org was formed to tap into and organize this growing concern about elevated rail.

TysonsTunnel.org now provides concerned citizens with a platform to get involved and voice their opinions about the negative, long-term consequences of having a Whitehurst Freeway-type structure running along Route 123 and down the median of Route 7 through Tysons Corner.

We believe it is essential to require competitive bidding on a public project of this magnitude to assure the best price. By opening the final design and construction work to competitive bidding, as opposed to the current non-competitive approach, elected and appointed officials can ensure that the public is getting the best price for the community's investment in one of the largest public works in the Commonwealth. Further, this approach could also provide an opportunity to answer and resolve the "unanswered questions" cited by officials in deciding against a tunnel.

As strong advocates of Metrorail to Dulles, we believe that the tunnel is the right solution for the near and long term benefit of our region. We understand that there were cost and timing questions associated with the recent decision in favor of elevated rail, but we are also aware of companies that have successfully completed similar metro tunnel projects in other major cities on a very cost effective basis .

Based on expert analysis, a tunnel under Tysons Corner will reduce maintenance costs, mitigate environmental effects, have a functional life span twice that of elevated rail, effectively eliminate the traffic and business interruption caused by elevated rail construction, provide long term economic development benefits, and positively impact the overall quality of living and working in Tysons.