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We can't have an above average transportation system with below average revenues…
As the Commonwealth of Virginia has yet again been named the best state for business according to Forbes.com, there is one major area that has begun to affect our ranking– our failure to dedicate revenues toward our aging transportation infrastructure.
With numerous opinions on how to deal with this issue, there is one item that remains constant, there is no such thing as a "free lunch." In other words, in order for Virginia's transportation system to get the new revenue sources it so desperately needs, we are all going to have to chip in.
Our roads are paid for by user fees - mainly the gas tax, the general sales tax, and the auto sales tax - and our statewide tallies on all of these fees are well below the national average.
Quick Virginia Taxation Facts:
- Virginia ranks 5th in average per capita income
- Virginia has the 12th highest population in the nation
- Virginia had the 18th lowest state and local tax burden in the country
- Virginia ranks 39th on taxes as a percentage of personal income
- Virginia's gas tax is the 11th lowest in the nation
- Virginia's sales tax is the 5th lowest in the nation
- Virginia's auto sales tax is 3rd lowest in the nation
Bottom line: Virginia ranks near the bottom among states when it comes to revenues dedicated to transportation infrastructure funding.
With our main funding sources lagging behind the national average, money is being pulled out of the construction budget at an alarming rate (nearly $400 million in FY 2008) to make up for the lack of revenue raised for maintenance. By law, this takes funding precedence over new construction.
With the cost of maintaining our continually aging roadways growing every day and the amount of available funds rapidly decreasing, it is our duty as concerned Virginians to step up and let our legislators know that enough is enough.
We simply cannot afford to let another General Assembly session go by without a long-term, dedicated, statewide, multi-modal transportation funding solution.
Please click here to simply send your legislators an e-mail letting him or her know that you support an increase in statewide transportation funding.
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Impact of maintenance deficit on highway construction by district
The following chart shows the amount of funding in millions (per district) that the maintenance deficit pulls from each locality's construction budget in Fiscal Year 2008 through Fiscal Year 2014.
|
|
FY08
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FY09
|
FY10
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FY11
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FY12
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FY13
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FY14
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| Bristol
|
($19.5)
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($28.8)
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($28.8)
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($32.1)
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($34.9)
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($37.4)
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($42.6)
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| Culpeper
|
(16.6)
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(24.6)
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(24.5)
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(27.3)
|
(29.8)
|
(31.9)
|
(36.3)
|
| Fredericksburg
|
(18.1)
|
(27.0)
|
(27.0)
|
(30.1)
|
(32.8)
|
(35.2)
|
(40.2)
|
| Hampton Roads
|
(53.8)
|
(80.3)
|
(80.0)
|
(89.5)
|
(97.6)
|
(104.6)
|
(119.4)
|
| Lynchburg
|
(19.3)
|
(28.6)
|
(28.5)
|
(31.8)
|
(34.7)
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(37.2)
|
(42.4)
|
| NoVA
|
(49.6)
|
(74.1)
|
(73.9)
|
(82.6)
|
(90.0)
|
(96.5)
|
(110.1)
|
| Richmond
|
(37.9)
|
(56.5)
|
(56.3)
|
(62.9)
|
(68.6)
|
(73.5)
|
(83.9)
|
| Salem
|
(25.5)
|
(38.0)
|
(37.9)
|
(42.3)
|
(46.1)
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(49.4)
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(56.3)
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| Staunton
|
(20.3)
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(30.1)
|
(30.0)
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(33.6)
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(36.5)
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(39.1)
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(44.6)
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| TOTAL
|
($260.6)
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(388.1)
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(387.0)
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(432.3)
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(471.1)
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(504.9)
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($575.7)
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- In FY 2008, the maintenance deficit exceeded total funding available for the statewide secondary construction program.
- In FY 2011, the maintenance deficit will exceed both the statewide secondary and urban construction program.
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Model resolution submitted by VACo
The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) has recently created a model resolution for all counties to implement prior to the June 23 transportation special session.
VACo has since delivered its resolution to 95 board chairs and chief administrative officers.
In the resolution VACo calls on Gov. Tim Kaine and the Virginia General Assembly to enact a significant transportation funding package in order to provide a resolution to the Commonwealth's well-documented transportation infrastructure needs.
VACo cites the Commonwealth Transportation Board's elimination and reduction of programmed project spending totaling $1.1 billion in the new six-year plan, 44 percent reductions to primary, urban and secondary road funding, the need for more than $3 billion to repair the Commonwealth's estimated 1,700 deficient bridges, etc. as a basis for the Governor and General Assembly to enact a significant transportation funding package for the Commonwealth during the upcoming special session.
To read the entire resolution, click here.
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Quotes from Around the Commonwealth
- From the Virginian-Pilot: A group of Hampton Roads executives and lawyers said in a letter to Attorney General Bob McDonnell "We are asking that you become fully engaged in the debate and in creating a viable solution," they wrote. "We have far too much at stake to let this issue go unresolved." To read the entire article, click here.
- From the Free-Lance Star: "Tell the people to get on the problem-solvers side of this thing," Gov. Tim Kaine said. "We will get a solution or make very plain to Virginians who does not want a solution." To read the entire article, click here.
- From ABC News Channel 7 in Arlington: To accommodate the crowds for now, every train added two double-decker cars. Mark Roeber with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) said the added cars will ease roadway congestion. "Those two trains, if they are operating at their capacity, remove about 2,500 people per day off the highways." To read the entire article, click here.
- From the Madison County Eagle: Virginia Department of Transportation officials recently changed the county's (Madison) six-year plan so it only lists projects that are set to receive money during the coming fiscal year. The change resulted in three road projects being cut from the roadwork priority list, leaving seven projects set to receive some money this year. To read the entire article, click here.
- From the Daily Press: Henry M. Bennett said the idea of a statewide gasoline tax hike for Virginia should not be rejected outright without some serious discussion. Unfortunately, if we can believe what the news media report, some of our key and most influential legislators have done that as well. Their obstinacy makes them unfit for office. To read the entire opinion piece, click here.
- From the Virginian-Pilot: Gov. Tim Kaine said "Just tell your legislators, 'Hey, if you don't like the governor's plan, do a better one. But no plan is not an option." To read the entire article, click here.
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Transportation Town Hall Meeting Reminder
VBT would like to urge all of you to attend Gov. Kaine's Transportation Town Hall meetings, which are currently taking place throughout the Commonwealth. To see a complete list of these meetings, click here.
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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