Fairfax County Times publishes an op-ed by Patrick Rhode, Cintra’s US Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, who goes to bat for the $3 billion I-66 outside the beltway P3 project. Rhode writes, “As the Commonwealth has noted, P3’s are a powerful tool for enabling new projects, but they only work if taxpayers’ interests are protected. Virginia taxpayers can be assured that their state leaders are tough negotiators and that the public interest will be protected in this deal.” Cintra and Meridiam lead the team selected for the project. On the other hand . . .
Fairfax County Times publishes an op-ed by Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13) , who slams the project and urges the Commonwealth Transportation Board to delay voting on the P3 contract. He writes, “While VDOT has refused to disclose proposed toll costs for I-66, data from VDOT studies indicate that a single or double occupant vehicle will pay $75/day round trip from Haymarket to I-495 and $17 a day round trip inside I-495 during high drive time. This amounts to $92/day, $460/week, or $23,000/year for those commuting to DC.”