Disingenuousness about Tysons subway service and aboveground vs. tunnel-based service

today's Dr. Gridlock runs an ironic piece, "Welcome to Tysonsland," about car culture and Tyson's Corner vs. transit. He then commented thusly:

Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, noted quite correctly that the real choice wasn't between an elevated or underground rail. It was between a rail line or no rail line, thanks to the restrictive federal formula for supporting transit projects.

The reason I think this is disingenuous is because two Congressmen from Northern Virginia, Tom Davis and Frank Wolf, had the opportunity to press the Federal Transit Administration to broaden their scoring methodology beyond consideration of strict cost, to look at wider impacts and overall wealth creation from transit expansion and the impact on urban design and placemaking.

They did not take this opportunity. Instead, they told Virginia to cave (so to speak).

Leaders lead. Or not.