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Nearly 50 Virginia localities call for transportation funding solution
As General Assembly members prepare to go into a special session June 23, nearly 50 Virginia localities have signed resolutions which call for a transportation funding solution.
Even though these resolutions have been tailored to meet many of the localities' needs, they all stress that coming home empty handed is not an option.
While some legislators are unwilling to admit that the transportation funding shortfall is affecting their constituents, the localities are clearly saying that enough is enough and that they desperately need additional transportation funding.
Regardless of what area of the Commonwealth you live in, the transportation funding shortfall is affecting your quality of life. Transportation projects are being cancelled, bridges are continuing to deteriorate, our roads are becoming more dangerous and we lack public transportation and rail alternatives.
Our legislators need to enact a simple, statewide and sustainable transportation funding plan during this month's special session. Virginia simply cannot afford to get further behind.
To read the entire list of adoptive localities, click here.
To read VACo's model resolution, click here.
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Gov. Kaine unveils transportation funding plan
At a press conference in Richmond on Thursday, Gov. Kaine publicly released the final version of the transportation funding package that he will present to the General Assembly during the upcoming special session.
The plan will provide funding for much-needed statewide maintenance projects, regional transportation needs and multi-modal transportation alternatives.
"I am offering a plan that is simple, statewide and sustainable to address the growing shortfall in our maintenance needs and provides dedicated funds to address our statewide and regional transportation needs," said Gov. Kaine.
To read VBT's position on the Governor's plan, click here.
To send your legislators an e-mail urging them to reach a transportation funding solution during the upcoming special session, click here.
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More than 600 transportation projects cut from Six-Year Plan
Recently the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) voted to pull $2.75 billion over the next six years from the new road construction budget and divert it to Virginia's ever-growing statewide maintenance deficit.
This means that 503 road building projects that the CTB approved last year and were already underway are now either dead or delayed indefinitely. Another 104 projects that the CTB had identified as priorities have now also been dropped from the Six-Year Plan.
With the slowing economy, increased construction prices and VDOT's lack of revenues, this is yet another huge set back for the Commonwealth's aging transportation system.
Areas of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are growing and due to statewide maintenance needs (which by law take precedence over new construction) roads are not being built to keep up with demand. In southwestern Virginia many roads remain unpaved which is ultimately costing this region many valuable economic development opportunities. And, in central Virginia many localities are faced with less road funding money than they had in 1996!
How can we expect to have a competitive infrastructure if we are unable to make a substantial financial commitment to our transportation system? We simply cannot afford for our legislators to come back from the special session without an adequate transportation funding solution.
To read more about the transportation funding crisis and what it means to you, click here.
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Quotes from around the Commonwealth
- The Daily Press: In an opinion piece which addresses using toll concessions as part of the Commonwealth's transportation funding plan, the author said, "The big payoff for taxpayers is the upfront payment — numbers like $1 billion are being thrown around — that could be used to get other transportation projects going." To read the entire article, click here.
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch: In an article which addresses the Commonwealth's lack of funding for new highway projects, state Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said, "We are unable to initiate major new projects throughout the commonwealth simply due to the lack of funding." To read the entire article, click here.
- The Daily News Record: In an article which addresses the crucial widening of Port Republic Road, Gov. Kaine's press secretary, Gordon Hickey said, "We have a real shortfall of $1.1 billion, and the only political maneuvering is being done by people who don't want to do what the taxpayers want them to do, which is take care of business." To read the entire article, click here.
- Stateline.org: In an article which addresses the potential loss of approximately 400,000 American jobs if transportation funding is not increased, AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley said, "We must either find ways now to fund a transportation system that will ensure economic prosperity or be content to sit in traffic and watch our highways crumble because of overuse and a lack of funding. Jobs and lives are at stake." To read the entire article, 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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