Barbara Comstock’s Latest Charade to Distract from her Lousy Record on Transportation
By bragging about a bill to study ways to reduce traffic congestion and improve rail safety, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock has taken her latest futile step to distract from her lousy record on transportation. Comstock is really going the extra mile, praying voters forget her votes against both funding the Silver Line and an additional $3 million for safety and operations at the Federal Railroad Administration.
How far will Barbara Comstock go to try and paper over a terrible record on Rail safety and traffic reducing measures? You’ll remember that earlier this year, Comstock (1) rode the Silver Line to “protest” proposed funding cuts to WMATA capital improvements and (2) celebrated the Silver Line’s first birthday in July, despite her vote against funding for the Silver Line, which could have halted its expansion.
“There should be no off-ramp when it comes to reducing traffic in Northern Virginia,” said Jermaine House. “Unfortunately, Barbara Comstock only seems to care about traffic when it’s politically convenient and is not the reliable voice Northern Virginians deserve —whether on fighting to reduce traffic or any other of a host of important issues.
BACKGROUND
Comstock Opposed Dual Left-Turn Lanes To Ease Traffic On Route 7. “The existing turn lane frequently backs up into the main lanes of Route 7, causing traffic jams and leading to collisions, according to VDOT. In a Dec. 7 letter to U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), Connaughton said the dual turn lanes still are the preferred solution to that problem. However, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Wolf and McLean Del. Barbara Comstock (R) sided with the residents and asked VDOT to consider alternative solutions, and Connaughton agreed to implement the community-supported plan.” [Washington Post, 12/16/10]
Took Pride In Helping Kill Measure. “She also takes pride in having helped to kill a proposal for a two-lane left turn from Route 7 onto Georgetown Pike in Great Falls.” [Washington Post, 10/18/11]
Comstock Voted Against Additional $3 Million In Additional Funding For Federal Railroad Safety. In June 2015, Comstock voted against an amendment that would “reduce by $3 million funding for the Federal Aviation Administration’s operations account, with the reduction targeted at funding for staff offices, and provide an additional $3 million for the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety and operations account.” The amendment failed 184 to 230. [HR 2577, Vote #308, 6/04/15; CQ Floor Votes, 6/04/15]
Comstock Voted Against Increasing Safety Funding By Nearly $17 Million For Existing Rail Lines. In June 2015, Comstock voted against an amendment increasing funding for the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety and operations account by $16,930,000 in order to improve safety on existing rail lines and reduce funding for FRA capital investment grants by $83 million. “The U.S. House on Thursday rejected an effort by Rep. Scott Garrett to use some money earmarked for new transit projects to improve safety on existing lines instead. By a vote of 266-160, the House defeated Garrett’s attempt to amend the transportation spending bill and transfer $17 million to the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety account from the funds earmarked for new construction.” The amendment failed, 160 to 266. [HR 2577, Amendment #18, Vote #302, 6/04/15; NJ.com 6/05/15]
April 2012: Comstock Voted For State Budget That Failed To Include Funding For The Silver Line. In 2012, Comstock voted for the state budget. “The primary budget objection of Senate Democrats was the lack of $300 million to reduce tolls on a Northern Virginia highway that are used to fund the extension of a commuter rail line to Dulles International Airport.” [HB 1301, 4/17/12; Virginian-Pilot, 4/19/12]
March 2013: Comstock Voted Against Transportation Compromise; Thumbing Her Nose At Solution To Rush Hour Misery. “VIRGINIA’S LEGISLATURE has enacted the most important transportation funding bill in 27 years, a measure bringing billions to fix Northern Virginia’s crumbling roads and horrible traffic. Amazingly, 12 of 40 Northern Virginia lawmakers — nine Republicans and three Democrats — voted against it, thumbing their noses at the first politically feasible solution to rush-hour misery.” [Editorial, Washington Post,3/03/13]
Transportation Compromise Helped Fund Silver Line. The transportation bill “is projected to raise more than $3.5 billion for roads and rails over five years and nearly $900 million annually after 2018. Northern Virginia would get hundreds of millions from the state, including $300 million committed to complete Metro’s Silver Line extension to Dulles International Airport.” [Connection Newspapers, 2/27/13]
Washington Post: Comstock “Opposed Most Important State Legislation In More Than A Quarter Century” “Unfortunately, the Republican running to succeed Mr. Wolf, State Del. Barbara Comstock, is not in his mold… But while Mr. Wolf’s fingerprints are on virtually every major transportation project in the region, Ms. Comstock opposed the most important state legislation in more than a quarter century to pay for improvements to roads, bridges, tunnels and mass transit.” [Washington Post, 9/27/14]
Sun Gazette: Comstock’s Transportation Vote A “Disservice To Her Constituents.” In 2014, the Sun Gazette wrote: “We have had our quibbles with Comstock’s tenure in the House of Delegates. Among them: her vote against the 2013 transportation plan was a disservice to her constituents, designed to inoculate herself within the party against accusations of not being anti-tax enough.” [Sun Gazette, 4/22/14]