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Virginia's Transportation Infrastructure gets a D-minus
The Virginia section of the American Society of Civil Engineers has recently rated our transportation infrastructure as a D-minus in its first-ever report card on the condition of Virginia's public assets. Other areas to receive a rating below the national average include the commonwealth's dams and school system.
The engineering group's report did not say how much it would cost to bring the areas of concern up to acceptable levels, but estimates for drinking water systems, dams and roadways alone ran to more than $6.5 billion.
The report went on to say traffic congestion is choking major urban areas across the state. By 2025, the commonwealth's road needs could exceed $203 billion, though investment is expected to total only $95 billion.
"We can keep ignoring this stuff, but the cost to fix it once it fails is 10 times the cost to maintain it along the way," said Thomas L. Fitzgerald, president of the Virginia section of the engineering group. "The big challenge is a sustainable funding source."
Recently, the state awarded $35 million in federal stimulus contracts to repair 119 deficient bridges and culverts, but that will just barely make a dent in the commonwealth's increasingly deteriorating transportation infrastructure.
It is absolutely critical that this November Virginia elects a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and all 100 members of the House of Delegates, that are committed to working in a bi-partisan manner in order to provide the commonwealth with the long-term, dedicated, multi-modal, statewide transportation funding solution it so desperately needs.
To read a summary of the report card, click here. A full report with complete source citation will be available in January.
To contact your candidates, click here.
To read additional report coverage, click here and here.
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More Funding Cuts Looming
In a recent article, state officials warn that Virginia may have to cut an additional $883 million from its already depleted six-year transportation program.
This news comes on the heels of the Commonwealth Transportation Board's $1.5 billion cut to the six-year plan in June.
State officials said that this new round of potential cuts is based on a prolonged economic downturn that has wiped out revenues that are normally earmarked for roads, rail and transit.
Transportation officials will present the board with a draft of a revised six-year program sometime next month and the board will hold a public hearing in December before approving another round of cuts.
The proposed cuts will likely affect the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), which has already laid off workers and reduced services, including the closure of 19 interstate rest areas due to revenue shortfalls.
VDOT is currently facing a funding deficit of $134 million in the current fiscal year, which expires June 30, 2010, and a revenue reduction of $743 million over six years.
To read the entire article, click here.
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What the Candidates are Saying
WCVE Public Radio (88.9 FM) personalities Bill Miller and Dan Rosenthal will host a live radio forum at the WCVE studios in Richmond this Thursday, October 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. At the forum several House of Delegate candidates will be addressing budget shortfalls, the transportation funding crisis, school cuts, etc.
Members of the public are allowed to attend, but those interested need to contact forum@ideastations.org for reservations since limited seating is available.
The participating Incumbents and their opponents are:
- John A. Cox (55th District) and Robert N. Barnette Jr. (55th District)
- James O. Towey (56th District)
- Gary R. Reinhardt (65th District)
- Del. G. Manoli Loupassi (68th District) and William K. “Bill” Grogan (68th District)
- L. Shirley Harvey (69th District)
- Del. Delores McQuinn and Henry Otis Brown (70th District)
- Del. Jennifer McClellan and Silver Persinger (71st District)
- Del. John O’Bannon III and Tom Shields (73rd District)
- Del. Joe Morrissey and Michael A. Gage (74th District)
* WCVE Studios are located at 23 Sesame Street, Richmond, Va. 23235.
For more information about the transportation funding crisis or Virginians for Better Transportation, call 804-237-1399 or click here. to visit the It's Time Web site.
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