Representatives from various Virginia organizations joined at a news conference Tuesday to demand that the General Assembly pass a transportation-inclusive budget immediately. “The need is urgent and the time is now to pass a transportation budget,” said Lon Anderson, AAA Mid-Atlantic director of public and government affairs. “To address this crisis, transportation funding is needed immediately and isolating the transportation budget and postponing action on it will only exacerbate this crisis.” To read additional comments from Anderson, click here.
To an audience of media representatives, members of supporting Virginia organizations and the public, Anderson along with Virginians for Better Transportation’s (VBT) Jeff Southard, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance’s (NVTA) Bob Chase and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s Ira Agricola, described Virginia’s dire transportation funding situation.
Representatives stressed the need for the General Assembly to implement a solution that provides for long-term, sustainable funding of at least $1 billion a year dedicated to statewide transportation, plus $400 million a year for Northern Virginia and $250 million a year for the Hampton Roads area.
During the news conference Agricola read from a list, provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation, of sample projects that could be impacted by a lack of transportation funding. He stressed that the list represented the types of projects that could be cut if funding needs are not met. That list included:
- I-246/64 Interchange – Norfolk/Virginia Beach
- Huguenot Bridge – Richmond
- Route 29 from Capital Beltway to Merrilee Drive – Fairfax County
- Route 17 widening – Stafford County
- Route 229 widening – Culpeper District
To view the full list of projects from AAA Mid-Atlantic’s news release, click here.
NVTA’s Chase told those in attendance “it’s time for action.” He said in 1993, Virginia’s 20-year unfunded highway needs were estimated at $19 billion and total unfunded transportation needs were $52 billion. Despite the needs, no new funding was provided by the General Assembly. The situation was similar in 1997, and in 2004, the VTrans2025 report commissioned by the General Assembly found overall transportation needs to be $108 billion, or approximately $5 billion per year. The General Assembly provided only $130 million, or about two percent of what is needed, he said.
“If we have learned anything over this time period it’s that the longer the General Assembly waits, the more the price tag grows...We don’t need more delay. We need more action,” Chase said. “Far from being time to take a break; it’s time for the General Assembly to get to work.” To read additional comments from Chase, click here.
VBT’s Southard emphasized the importance of funding transportation without taking money from Virginia’s other core services. He discussed the law that requires VDOT to conduct its planning for roads on a 20-year horizon. The law requires VDOT to develop a financing and programming plan for those projects on a six-year planning horizon.
“VDOT implements that plan with a two-year construction schedule,” Southard said. “It is ironic that despite these requirements, some in the General Assembly only want to provide any new funding on a year-by-year basis.” Southard also stressed the importance of new funding for all modes of transportation. To read more of his comments, click here.
In addition to spokespersons from the AAA Mid-Atlantic, VBT, NVTA and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Virginians for High Speed Rail and the Virginia Transit Association were also in attendance, on behalf of their members, to show their support.
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AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Lon Anderson (center), Virginians for Better Transportation’s Jeff Southard (left) and Bob Chase (right), with Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, at the news conference at the State Capitol, Tuesday, April 11.
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Jeff Southard emphasizes the importance of funding transportation now without taking money away from Virginia’s other cores services. |
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Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s Ira Agricola presents a list of sample projects that could be in jeopardy without transportation funding.
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Bob Chase discusses the actions, or lack thereof, of the General Assembly in addressing transportation funding during the past 20 years.
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