Let’s build a modern, fast commuter rail line connecting Western Loudoun to the region’s core
Update: The Town of Hamilton has endorsed our plan, becoming the first municipality to do so.
Traffic gets worse every year. Let’s give residents the option to take the train and save time, money and the environment.
Our mission is to advocate for the construction of a commuter rail line on the path of the abandoned W&OD railroad alongside the bike trail to connect Loudoun to Washington, DC.
Why the W&OD?
One of the largest expenses in building transit projects is buying land. Haggling with every property owner along a route is an expensive and time-consuming process – just look at the California High-Speed Rail project.
By using a continuous, 29 mile section of land already owned by the state of Virginia, we can save taxpayers money and get the project done quickly.
Cost
The W&OD trail passes through the most densely populated historic areas of Loudoun and Fairfax which currently lack access to transit, such as Leesburg and Sterling, and the downtown areas of Ashburn, Herndon and Vienna.
Why is density important? Because it guarantees high ridership. Building better transit where people already live gives them the option to use transit, reducing traffic and making communities more sustainable. High ridership will make the route financially sustainable for local governments who fear the high costs associated with transit.
Connecting Communities
“The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad is necessary for a complete rail transit system for the Northern Virginia Transportation District.”
— Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, 1965
What will it look like?
FAQs
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No! The trail itself may only be a couple feet wide, but the park land is 100 feet wide. This means that the trail can most likely coexist with the new train tracks. California’s SMART commuter rail has done exactly this, building a trail alongside their tracks.
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According to our estimate, a trip from Leesburg to Foggy Bottom would take 45 minutes, a trip faster than driving and significantly cheaper
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The reason for this — instead of a line that goes directly into DC — is quite simple: Cost. The W&OD land was used to build I-66, so there isn't space left over for tracks. Digging a tunnel into DC would be expensive, and only save a few minutes.
By allowing riders to quickly transfer to Metro, billions could be saved and the ride is still much faster than taking the Silver Line or driving.
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The FTA’s cost model estimates $2.5 billion as the total project cost, a fraction of the cost of proposed Metrorail expansions (e.g., Silver Express, $35-40 billion).
Join us.
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