Tour Of N. Va. Trouble Spots Eye-Opening For Lawmakers

By David Schultz

It's rush hour, and Delegate Jeion Ward, a Democrat from Hampton, is struggling to find space in a packed Orange Line train.

"Alright, I'm in here," says Ward, pushing onto the train car.

Ward says now she understands what her colleagues from Northern Virginia have been complaining about.

"So when they say, 'We need more money because we need more cars on the Metro,' I can agree," she says.

Standing next to Ward is her colleague in the House, Scott Garrett, a Republican from Lynchburg. He's not as keen as Ward on more funding for Northern Virginia.

"It's clear there's a need for resources in this area," says Garrett. "But I think they clearly need resources in Richmond and Tidewater and around the state."

Both Garrett and Ward say they'll carry this "Orange Crush" experience with them when they vote on transportation issues in the State Capitol.