Virginia Elections 2013: McAuliffe, Herring Talk Transportation at Metro Station

McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic Party, called the Silver Line “an example of what happens when people work together to get things done.”

“This is the kind of project that is going to help keep Virginia’s economy strong and competitive in the 21st Century,” he said.

The two candidates also took their Republican opponents, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and State Sen. Mark Obenshain, to task for not supporting the project in the past.

“These are the kinds of projects that Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Obenshain were trying to stop with their opposition to Governor McDonnell’s transportation bill,” Herring said.

McAuliffe didn’t directly address his views on the controversial project labor agreement (PLA) for Phase II of the project out to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County.

Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell threatened to withhold $150 million for the project if the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) didn’t drop the union-friendly provision, and the MWAA board scrapped the provision in June 2012.

“I’ll let Gov. McDonnell speak for himself,” McAuliffe said when asked if he supported the governor’s actions.

Instead, McAuliffe stressed that his focus was on growing and diversifying the Commonwealth’s economy with more projects like the Silver Line.

McAuliffe, who lives in McLean with his wife, Dorothy, has five children who he wants to be able to stay in Virginia if they choose to.

“In order for our five children to stay here, we’ve got to have the jobs of the 21st century and a … modern, efficient transportation system,” he said. “What you see here today does exactly that.”