Why We Should Bring Back the W&OD

Dear Editor:

As Loudoun County has grown, so too has its need for reliable rapid-transit. The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad once connected the county to the region’s core. In order to continue the growth and development of a modern regional transportation network and solve many of WMATA’s issues, I propose rebuilding the W&OD as a commuter line.

WMATA’s Silver Line was constructed to solve the issue of transit access in Loudoun. However, since the final opening of its extension to Ashburn, quite frankly, it’s just not up to the task. It is too slow to be commuter rail, its location in a highway median limits development around stations, its end is far from population centers, and its connection to other Metro lines limits train frequency.

From Ashburn to Rosslyn, driving is 17 minutes faster than Metro. Those in Leesburg and west already have to drive at least 15 minutes to access the Silver Line. Metro is both slower than driving and getting there means paying the Greenway toll: Why would they stop and get on the train?

The W&OD; which traveled from Bluemont to Rosslyn and Alexandria, once connected the region. At one point the railroad carried 2.6 million passengers annually, spurring development, including a famous boardwalk in Hamilton. Ultimately, the line was abandoned and currently exists as a trail through its old route.

I propose that this trail be reactivated as a commuter railroad between Loudoun and the East Falls Church Metro station. The proposal is faster than driving, taking 30 minutes from Leesburg to Falls Church. There, commuters would transfer to Metro and continue towards DC. Acquiring land for transportation projects is often expensive and difficult: Not in this case.

This proposal would decongest roadways, making commutes easier and reducing traffic accidents. It would also spur development. According to APTA, “​every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic returns.” If this plan came to fruition, this would equate to new jobs, developments, tourism and a revival of historic downtowns across Loudoun. View the full proposal here.

Ryan Jones
Hamilton