It's Time Virginia

SALEM DISTRICT FACT SHEET

* Salem District

The failure to significantly invest in Virginia's transportation system affects every county in the Commonwealth. The following information shows how the significant decrease in state funding over the past 10 years impacts the primary, secondary and urban road systems and the Virginians who live and work in, and travel through the Salem District.

The Salem District includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke and the cities of Bedford, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke and Salem.

Every county and city in the Salem District will receive less state funding this year than they did 10 years ago.

In fiscal year (FY) 1996, the Salem District received about $56.5 million of state allocation formula funding for its primary, secondary and urban road projects. In FY 2006 it received $38.1 million - or $18.4 million less in funding. This is about a 33 percent decrease in funding.

The estimated costs for Salem District's primary, secondary and urban projects are $1.0 billion. The existing and projected funding identified for these projects through the current Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP: FY 2007-2012) is only $375.6 million. Therefore, an additional $625.4 million of funding is needed to complete these projects.

The decrease in funding for this region has led to the delay or elimination of many of the much-needed construction projects outlined in the SYIP.

Specifically, in FY 1996 Roanoke County received about $2.6 million of state allocation formula funding for its secondary road projects. In FY 2006, it received about $1.6 million - or $936,312 less in funding. This is about a 36 percent decrease in funding. Roanoke County needs an additional $29.6 million to complete its secondary road projects outlined in the current SYIP.

Specifically, in FY 1996 Henry County received about $2.2 million of state allocation formula funding for its secondary road projects. In FY 2006, it received about $1.3 million - or $890,711 less in funding. This is about a 41 percent decrease in funding. Henry County needs an additional $16.9 million to complete its secondary road projects outlined in the current SYIP.

Overall, the SYIP estimates the cost to complete Virginia's primary, secondary and urban road projects is $8.9 billion, yet the current and projected funding identified for these projects is $4.5 billion over the next six years. Therefore, an additional $4.4 billion is needed to complete these projects.

*This document has been prepared by Virginians for Better Transportation, and is based on information from the Virginia Department of Transportation. It also includes data taken from the current SYIP (FY 2007-2012) and the primary, secondary and urban state formula allocations for fiscal years 1996 and 2006. All costs are approximates.

For more information about Virginia's transportation funding crisis or Virginians for Better Transportation, visit www.itstimevirginia.org or call 804-237-1399.