A recent study by the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis concluded that commuters in Northern Virginia will continue to rely primarily on cars for commuting to and from work, at least for the next 30 years. John McClain, a Senior Fellow at George Mason University stated that although expansion and improvement of commuter transit systems to high volume areas, the rate of urban growth and job creation will still leave most people dependent on their cars. It is simply too expensive to connect the entire region via rail or bus systems.
Transit projects already underway, connecting the Metro to Tysons Corner and Dulles on the new Silver Line will drastically change the number of people using public transportation, but commutes into other areas will not be accessible except by car. Other proposed expansions of public transit are difficult to factor into studies because funding has yet to be secured. These findings were announced last Wednesday at a seminar in McLean, VA by the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
