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Transportation special session must end with funding solution
After months of debate, the transportation special session began Monday. However, this is not the first special session that the Commonwealth has seen since its last major revenue increase for transportation in 1986.
During a special session about transportation last year, legislation was passed that provided the first substantial funding for the Commonwealth's transportation system in more than 20 year.
However, many of the funding mechanisms that last year's bill (HB 3202) implemented have since been repealed, struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court, or lost by the slowing economy and now Virginians are finding themselves right back where they started - stuck in traffic, driving across degrading bridges and highways, lacking multi-modal alternatives, waiting for roads to be paved, etc.
That is why it is so critical for this year's General Assembly to work together to pass a sustainable transportation funding package.
It will never be cheaper than it is right now to finance a solution and with many localities facing funding levels lower than they had in 1996, we simply cannot afford to fall any further behind!
The following are points all legislators should consider during the special session:
- More than 60 local governments have passed resolutions calling on the General Assembly to fix the transportation funding crisis now.
- Without additional funding Virginia will lose its share of the Federal gas tax to other states in just a few years.
- Virginia drivers lose more than $900 per year to congestion and poor road conditions.
- A billion dollars in transportation construction spending would create more than 35,000 jobs and generate more than $2.6 billion in economic activity in Virginia.
- Almost 1,800 of the Commonwealth's bridges and culverts are structurally deficient. It will cost the Commonwealth more than $3 billion to fix them.
- Economic growth brings the need for additional transportation infrastructure and services – roads, buses, rail, port and airports and our dedicated transportation funds cannot keep up with these demands.
- Virginians are riding transit now more than ever. Additional sustainable funds for public transportation are urgently needed to keep pace with the increasing rider demand for more and improved transit and rail services and to absorb the rising price of diesel fuel used by transit vehicles.
- More than 1,000 people died on the Commonwealth's roadways last year which was triple the Commonwealth's murder rate.
- With the elimination of transportation funding mechanisms granted in HB 3202 and the recent downturn of the economy, Virginia will now lose almost $1 billion annually in transportation funding.
- Local governments will see their funding for urban and secondary roads decline by more than 44 percent.
- Virginians will waste 260 million gallons of gas due to being stuck in traffic.
To read more about the transportation funding shortfall, click here.
To send your local legislators an e-mail urging them to be a part of a solution, click here.
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BeatTheGridlock.com
As more and more Virginians become aware of the Commonwealth's transportation funding crisis we are now seeing an increased number of groups who support a sustainable funding solution for the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure.
One of these groups is BeatTheGridlock.com.
BeatTheGridlock.com offers supporters the ability to contact their legislators, download content, join an informational mailing list, and even see feedback from participating legislators about the transportation funding crisis and potential legislation.
In a time where our transportation infrastructure is nearing its breaking point it is extremely important that Virginians understand the severity of non-action during this month's transportation special session. That is why we support BeatTheGridlock.com and other sites like it.
For additional information about BeatTheGridlock.com, click here.
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Quotes from around the Commonwealth
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch: In an article that addresses the divide in the House of Delegates and the Senate in regard to the passage of a transportation funding plan, Senator Mary Margaret Whipple of Arlington County, head of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said "There's been plenty of talk, but no action." In my district, they've heard enough. They want us to do something." To read the entire article, click here.
- The Roanoke Times: In an article that addresses the challenges ahead during this month's transportation special session, Gov. Kaine, said "It is clear that this problem is real, significant and growing. Our public expects us to act." To read the entire article, click here.
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch: In an article that addresses the House of Delegates ruling to kill Gov. Kaine's transportation plan, Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer, said to the House Rules Committee about the plan "Transportation is a vital part of our economy." He added road improvements are a key to bringing business to economically starved rural areas. "Part of our goal and effort here is to further economic expansion." 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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