The state’s transportation funding crisis will continue to affect each Virginian’s quality of life unless long-term, dedicated and sustainable transportation funding solutions are enacted now.
Virginians for Better Transportation’s (VBT) supporters consist of individuals from across the state who are concerned about this issue and how, without a solution, their personal and professional lives will be negatively impacted.
In "Views from Around the Commonwealth" VBT highlights some of Virginia’s business leaders and their perspectives on the issue.
If you would like to submit your perspective, please e-mail it to
info@itstimevirginia.org.
Daniel L. Plaugher (NEW)
Executive Director
Virginians for High Speed Rail
"Virginians are truly starting to see the importance of a multimodal solution to our transportation problems. The issue is not building citizen support rather reaching our elected leaders who do not have the will to make the changes necessary to improve our transportation system. Rail ridership is up across the board; freight rail is seeing more containers loaded onto their rail lines then ever before. Yet, just like our highways, our rails are reaching full capacity."
"We read in the newspapers everyday from regular citizens fed up with sitting in traffic for hours on end staring at the back of another cars bumper, they ask why rail isn’t even considered when talking about transportation and congestion relief. Passenger trains can take thousands of cars off the road each day. One freight train can take hundreds of tractor trailers off the road each day. Yet rail is merely an after thought."
"Our transportation system is at a breaking point. The Transportation bill of 2007, did very little to make things better and caused more angst with abusive drive fees than simply installing a 1 or 2 cent gas tax. As congestion rises so does the cost of building a necessary transportation system to move our people effectively. Our leaders need to be visionaries and realize that we cannot build our way out of congestion, that we need a mix of rail and roads."
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Vance Bright
Federal Retiree, U.S. Department of Navy
Palmyra
"So here we are today -- Virginians want a solution to the transportation funding crisis, but it appears some don't want to pay the necessary costs to adequately address it. To make matters worse, there are some members of the General Assembly who seem to use this to excuse their failure to exercise responsible leadership. Our legislators may know what some Virginians say they don't want, but that's hardly a foundation on which to build transportation policy.
"For our own good, the General Assembly must be wise enough and bold enough to provide sound leadership and responsibility and act NOW to formulate a transportation policy that is responsive to the long-term needs of the Commonwealth and its people. Let us hope our leaders can rise to the occasion during this special session dedicated to the issue of transportation funding!
"I support long-term, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Melissa Meade
Independent Living Advocate
Appalachian Independence Center
Abingdon
"While business leaders warn that traffic congestion in Northern Virginia will undermine the area's prosperity and harm residents' quality of life, southwest Virginia also has problems with non-existent or inadequate transportation systems.
"The issues surrounding the difficulties of rural transportation and alternative modes of transportation have hardly been a topic of discussion. Also, the possibility of undermining 'the area's prosperity' in Northern Virginia seems to be taking more importance than creating a system that would allow growth and development that may eventually lead to some semblance of prosperity for an area of Virginia that has never experienced this. I believe that because southwest Virginia is poverty-stricken, transportation needs go untouched.
"This area of the state seems to be forgotten, and yet I believe it suffers greatly with transportation woes of its own. It's time for our leaders to implement a statewide solution to the transportation funding crisis.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Meade G. Stone, Jr.
President
W.M. Stone & Co., Inc.
Norfolk
"Congested roads stifle communities. Congested roads severely delay evacuation. Tourists will visit and vacation in less congested areas.
"Yet motorists who sit in traffic twice each day during the week waiting to travel from Portsmouth to Norfolk or the Peninsula to Norfolk and return later in the day are spending a fortune in wasted time away from their families.
"It will take a combination of tolls and new taxes to build and improve the proposed road work. We are already spending money on fuel to sit in traffic each day. Are we not better off to spend this money on tolls and taxes to gain back our personal time with family, doing what we want to do and eliminating the frustration of traveling in this area? Is this argument not applicable to other areas of the Commonwealth faced with similar transportation congestion?
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Del. Vivian Watts
Former Virginia Secretary of Transportation
Fairfax
"For the third time in five years, the Virginia General Assembly failed to pass the state budget on time. This year we were inches away from shutting down state government. Even with the months of delay, no agreement was reached on transportation. Hopefully, we'll act this fall.
"As a former Secretary of Transportation (20 years ago, the last time we took meaningful action) I have never felt more frustrated. Each year, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) releases a plan for construction activity throughout the next six years. This plan includes projects to be completed, projects under construction and, typically, projects under design (with little money for future construction, this has shrunk from 10 percent of the budget to less than 1 percent).
"At today's costs, it will take $17.8 billion to complete just those projects currently outlined in the current statewide Six-Year Improvement Program. Virginia needs at least $1 billion every year in state funds, with the remainder from federal, private and local sources.
"The longer we wait, the more costs go up (i.e. buying right-of-way for the I-66 Gainesville interchange went up 65 percent). The longer we wait, the more local taxes are burdened with the full cost of Metro (i.e. Virginia's share of local/state costs dropped to 21 percent, the lowest in decades). The longer we wait, the sooner all transportation revenue will be eaten up by maintenance, leaving nothing for construction.
"I support long-term, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Richard M. Davis
Retired Home Builder
Free Union
"When all the amazing bridges, tunnels, highways and interchanges in Virginia were built, it was as if some believed this infrastructure would last forever without repair and maintenance.
"Today, I cannot drive anywhere in the state without seeing and experiencing the poor condition of our roads and byways. A lack of highway shoulders, frequent pot holes and closed rest stops are primary examples. Though minor, these clearly show the need for additional funding simply to maintain the state transportation industry's status quo.
"Meanwhile in Richmond some politicians are seemingly ignoring the realities of the transportation funding crisis as they are clearly advocating no new taxes. I pay enough taxes and agree, but there must be better places to economize than the maze of highways and byways that we've built and come to depend on in our lives everyday. It would be irresponsible of us to allow our transportation system to deteriorate after we have already invested so much time and money to create it.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Bev Fitzpatrick
Executive Director, Virginia Museum of Transportation
Chairman, Virginia Municipal League's Transportation Policy Committee
Roanoke
"As the Commonwealth faces the next several decades, we have a lot of things going for this wonderful state. We have a great economy, a well-educated workforce, a work ethic envied by other states, and growing industries that create good jobs for our young people. Virginia has the beach, the mountains and all that lies in between, and beauty beyond what most states could ever realize. Unfortunately, the lack of an integrated transportation network, which ties all of this together, endangers these assets the most.
"Virginia is in a crisis that would have our founding fathers rolling in their graves. The lead state of all the colonies has forsaken its responsibility to ensure a future for its citizens by not investing strategically in a long-term solution for our transportation needs.
"All one needs to do is drive I-81 on a regular basis to experience the traffic gridlock. Located in Southwest Virginia, it's the most traveled interstate connecting the Southwest to the Northeast. Unfortunately, an accident can cause both directions of the interstate to close for several hours. And if traffic on I-81 continues to delay trucks transporting raw materials and finished goods to and from Virginia, these companies who create countless jobs for Virginians will cease to do business in our state.
"In addition, if the containers from the growing Ports of Virginia cannot traverse our roads or rails to reach the majority of Americans who live within 500 miles of Virginia, ships will go to other ports causing Virginia to lose billions of dollars each year. Containers are the mode of choice for the world's goods, and if Virginia is not equipped to carry additional volume then we will not be the most inviting port of call on the Atlantic Seaboard. Even with water depths and space to expand, our inability to move goods efficiently and effectively will sink our future.
"Virginia cannot afford to have its jobs and economy placed in jeopardy any longer. The issue facing the General Assembly isn't about money, it's about leadership - leadership that accepts the fact that action is crucial if we want a wonderful future in the Commonwealth.
"It is great to have education, natural resources, work ethic and good industry, but only if these assets are complemented by an efficient multimodal transportation system. Without a sustainable, long-term transportation funding plan, Virginia will continue to see a drastic decline in our state's potential. Virginia, it's time to put transportation first.
"I support long-term, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Stephen C. Nelson
President
Junction Travel
Manassas
“Northern Virginia businesses face a huge hurdle every day – traffic. Our workers endure long commutes, our technicians and sales people lose valuable productive time traveling between client/site meetings, and our customers are altering their buying patterns in order to avoid peak periods of traffic. These problems, as a result of traffic, negatively affect our businesses’ productivity as well as our local economy.
“Additionally, we are losing something even more important – our time; time with our families, time to volunteer and simply time to relax and enjoy our surroundings.
“The transportation funding crisis facing our Commonwealth needs immediate attention and action. Our leaders cannot continue to delay funding for our transportation system any longer.
“I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding.”
James M. Pendergast
Executive Director
Virginia Beach Vision, Inc.
Virginia Beach
"The lack of an adequate, efficient transportation network in Hampton Roads is slowly, but surely, strangling the region's economy. Only two-thirds of the region's 4,666 miles of roadway, stretching from Williamsburg to North Carolina, is graded at an acceptable Level of Service (LOS) for its travelers. This roadway is already congested and is expected to steadily worsen. By 2026, less than 50 percent of this roadway will operate at an acceptable level. A long-range regional transportation plan has been proposed to combat these congestion problems, but Virginia's House of Delegates clearly does not see the risk involved by not funding the construction plan.
"Two of the region's major economic engines, its tourism industry and vibrant port operation, are unfortunately being adversely impacted by the region's growing traffic snarls. Additionally, businesses, especially service delivery business operations, are experiencing adverse financial impacts due to lost efficiency caused by traffic congestion. There are warning signs that the region's economy may grind to a slow speed if immediate action is not taken to remedy the growing congestion problems in this region.
"Tourism - Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens are among the region's popular destinations, attracting millions of visitors who spend millions of dollars for the local and state economy, yet the traffic congestion that separates these tourist destinations has already begun to show damage. Eleven percent of respondents of a 2006 survey indicated poor traffic conditions was their primary dissatisfaction with going on a vacation to Virginia Beach. In 2001, survey results indicated approximately one percent of respondents had the same complaint.
"There has also been a dramatic decrease in the number of 'day visits' that historically characterized Virginia Beach and Williamsburg vacationers. Typically, many vacationers would travel to one city from the other while in the region to diversify their vacations, however there has been a consistent drop in those 'day visits' over the past five years and traffic congestion was identified as the principal factor. In 2000, 40 percent of Beach visitors made the 'day visit', and last year only 17 percent chose to battle the traffic.
"Port of Hampton Roads - The Port of Hampton Roads is the premier deep-water port on the east coast, however it is not unusual for shippers to shift toward other ports where ground transportation is not impeded by excessive traffic and their products can reach their intended destinations faster and more cheaply.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
n reach their intended destinations faster and more cheaply. "I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Bob Archer
General Manager
Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc.
Salem
"Improve I-81? Construct I-73 through the Roanoke Valley? Not in our lifetime. I would settle for long-planned improvements to U.S. Route 460 west of Salem, which would allow my employees to travel to and from work in a timely manner. In addition, this one project would reduce the travel time for our approximately 80 delivery trucks each day. This is but one example of numerous projects that have been in the planning stage for more than 10 years and that have not been completed due to transportation funding shortfalls.
"Our family business, Blue Ridge Beverage Co., Inc., operates out of four locations in central and southwest Virginia and we face similar situations in all of these areas. Being in the beverage distribution business, our company (along with its 270 employees), relies heavily on adequate road (and rail) systems. It is our opinion that Virginia's road system has not kept pace with population and economic growth (to include maintenance needs) and we are now facing the consequences.
"I remain very concerned about a perspective in our General Assembly that suggests we should invest in our transportation systems (road, rail, air and ports) only when we have sufficient or excess funds in our Commonwealth's General Fund. How will we continue to attract new, desirable companies from outside the state when they realize we are not willing to invest sufficiently in our infrastructure? Further, why would an existing company want to expand significantly if the transportation system needs of importance to that company continue to deteriorate? Common sense alone would indicate that this approach only provides short-term and piecemeal relief.
"Now is the time to commit to long-term, dedicated funding for our various transportation needs. This approach does not preclude the use of new and innovative methods to address some of these needs. However, it does mean that they alone will not "get the job done." It is time for our legislators to come together and endorse long-term solutions to these serious problems - time is short.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
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Lon Anderson
Director of Public and Government Affairs
AAA Mid-Atlantic
Northern Virginia
"Congestion is the thief that robs so many of us in the Commonwealth of that most precious gift—time, time with family, time at work, time at play. It also saps our economy, lurking as an ad hoc tax on each of us and on businesses as we live and work, especially in places like Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area.
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In Northern Virginia, reputable studies tell us that we lose almost two working weeks each year to congestion. It’s real, it’s insidious and it’s outrageous that the Virginia Legislature has once again failed to address our chronic gridlock by refusing to adequately fund transportation.
"Literally, the failure to appropriately fund transportation for several years means we are allowing traffic gridlock to strangle our economy’s golden geese.
"AAA Mid-Atlantic supports long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding to improve mobility and safety for all."
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Clyde R. Hoey II
Retired President and CEO
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads
“The General Assembly last considered funding issues for transportation in Virginia in 1986. Since then the Hampton Roads region and the Virginia Peninsula have continued to grow and become more important in the economy of the Commonwealth. Virginia has invested heavily in the development of the ports of Hampton Roads, and the volume is expected to double within the next five years. This will mean expanded traffic congestion and increased delays in products reaching their intended destinations on time.
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"Additionally, transportation projects across the 16 communities that make up Hampton Roads have been engineered and impact statements issued. The investments in the engineering and statements will reach a terminal deadline this fall if the General Assembly does not provide the needed funding resources now. This fall, the Commonwealth will begin losing federal money if permanent funding sources are not in place. Federally funded projects include rail and mass transit as well as roads, bridges and tunnels – all which are desperately needed in this region.
“In Hampton Roads, more than 65,000 businesses and approximately 1.5 million residents are losing their patience with the General Assembly’s refusal to address the recognized needed transportation funding. Ultimately, this region and the Commonwealth will lose their competitive edge in the world market and will suffer economically.
“The House of Delegates must ensure that at least $1 billion of dedicated funding for transportation annually is in place for the next 20 years. Members of the Senate have acknowledged the need and are waiting on members of the House to act in a responsible manner.
“I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding.”
Fritz Knapp
Executive Director
Virginia Transportation Alliance
Richmond
“The debate over transportation funding in Virginia, like my older-model car, has stalled. People, not valves and pistons, drive the transportation debate, and the energy being spent by politicians is not getting anyone farther down the road, so to speak. It’s time, instead, to fix what’s broken, especially for those taxpaying Virginians whose transportation options are severely limited, namely those who are elderly or have disabilities.
“As the state of Pennsylvania has discovered through an extensive rideshare program, a little money goes a long way toward helping not only the most vulnerable in our communities, but those who, for one reason or another, choose to ride public transportation (one reason is...it’s MUCH cheaper). They began roughly eight years ago with a $3 million pilot program, covering five counties. The success in those counties led to expansion of the program to now 15, and the expenditure of additional funds by the legislature. It’s working for hundreds, if not thousands, of Keystonites!
“Why can’t Virginia come up with such creative options to the current debate? Do our politicians represent ALL Virginians or only those with “muscle?” I, for one, am really proud to live in a state to which I’m not native, but embarrassed by how we can’t solve problems with a little old fashion ingenuity.
“I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Philip A. Shucet
President, Dragas Management Corporation
Virginia Beach
"Here are the starkest facts to remember about transportation in Virginia, regardless of whether you favor more investment in rail, transit, bike-ways or public transportation - in about 12 years, without identifying and implementing additional sustainable sources of revenue now:
"There are indeed many important issues facing transportation in Virginia. All of them deserve a fair hearing. But, when you boil down the facts to these three simple realities, it's easy to see any reasonable discussion about our mobility has to include a discussion about new sustainable sources of revenue. It's not hard to figure out. And, it's time - now.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Pamela Schmidt
President, Proicere, Inc.
Virginia Beach
"I live in Virginia and, like many others, often sit in traffic for hours. I am not happy when I travel home from Baltimore to Virginia Beach on a Sunday evening - a trip that should only take five hours - and yet it takes me six to seven hours to get there. If it is a holiday weekend, it takes nine hours.
"I believe there are a few options that would help combat the state's transportation problem such as widening existing roads and placing tolls on roads in need of repair. However, the burden of the cost of repairs and improvements should be on the people who use the roads. It's not fair that my 74-year-old neighbor who is terrified to drive on the interstate should have to pay for my driving convenience. The solution at which the General Assembly arrives must require users of our roads and other transportation services to foot the bill. This would spare my neighbor and would also require out-of-state travelers to help pay for our transportation system when they use it.
"Virginia also needs a more efficient public transportation system and additional travel options. Buses are too slow and have to compete with traffic. By bus, it takes nearly two hours to travel from downtown Norfolk to Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach. By car, without traffic, which is rare, it takes about 20 minutes. Virginia needs a cost-efficient public transportation system that caters to the needs of its users.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Jeff Southard
Executive Vice President, Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance
Richmond
"It has been 20 years since the General Assembly addressed long-term funding for transportation in Virginia. Since then, we have seen congestion increase, the population increase, the number of vehicles increase, the number of vehicle miles traveled increase, and the buying power of those 1986 dollars decrease by almost 50 percent.
"The resulting congestion and deterioration of the transportation system cost Virginians more than $4 billion every year due to increased fuel costs, lost time, greater incidence of accidents and more frequent repair bills. We cannot continue to delay funding for Virginia's transportation system.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Linda McMinimy
Executive Director, Virginia Transit Association
Richmond
"As gas prices continue to rise, more Virginians are deciding to save money and fuel by taking the bus, train or Metrorail to work and other destinations. Transit ridership across the state is at record levels. Yet Virginia's public transportation systems are struggling just to maintain existing service levels due to long-time underfunding and rising fuel prices.
"Unfortunately, without a significant increase in state transportation funds by July 1, overcrowding and service reductions will occur during the next year. This will have a negative ripple effect beyond just transit riders. An overcrowded or eroding transit service will significantly increase traffic congestion by sending more commuters back onto the state's already-congested roads, causing residents to waste more time and money sitting in traffic. Reduced service will hurt those elderly, disabled and transit-dependent passengers who have no other travel alternatives and, therefore, must rely on transit service to get to medical appointments, to remain independent or maintain employment. This is unacceptable.
"Only the Senate and Governor's transportation plans provide this necessary new revenue required to expand public transportation service. Further inaction by the General Assembly on transportation funding legislation will have the unintended effect of actually reducing public transportation service. This cannot and should not happen, particularly during a time when Virginians are looking for ways to save travel time and money.
"The time for action is now. I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
John A. Hornbeck, Jr., CCE
President and CEO, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads
"Hampton Roads is facing a crisis in meeting our transportation infrastructure needs. The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce supports funding the six regional road projects that were developed by the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and adopted by each of the cities and counties of our region.
"We are encouraged by recent proposals put forth by the Virginia General Assembly to create a regional transportation finance authority that would be authorized to issue debt, enter into contracts to implement public-private transportation partnerships and generate the necessary revenue to build the projects. Sources of revenue that have been discussed may include a one percent regional sales tax and tolls on new or expanded road facilities.
"We urge our elected leadership to work in a bipartisan fashion to craft a budget proposal that would generate the minimum $250 million dollar annual investment needed to fund the MPO’s transportation for Hampton Roads. The cost of not funding our infrastructure needs now is simply too great of a burden for our present, and more importantly, our future generations to bear.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Charles G. McDaniel,
Chairman, Hilldrup Companies
Stafford
"I have watched the transportation problem grow worse every year. Hilldrup is a moving and storage company headquartered in Northern Virginia; and, while a lot of our local and short-haul trucks operate in Northern Virginia, we go all over the United States. We have to go where people live, so we use all the roads - especially in Northern Virginia. The transportation problem is causing major disruptions in our business. We have to dispatch trucks several hours earlier than normal just to get to customers' houses at reasonable times. Our trucks are delayed returning in the afternoon because of the volume of traffic on I-95. This has increased our operating expenses since we generally have anywhere from two to four employees in each vehicle. In addition to the labor cost increase, we have the problem of increased fuel consumption and all the problems associated with diesel exhaust while we're idling in traffic.
"Just last week we had two days where our employees were delayed for up to two hours coming to work because of a minor accident on I-95 in the Fredericksburg area. Employees are suffering major delays, as well as the associated quality-of-life issues connected with transportation problems.
"It's critical that we develop a sustainable long-term funding solution for transportation – and do the other things that provide innovative ideas to help the situation. We need a combination of new thinking, innovative ideas and long-term funding to solve the mess we're in right now. We cannot delay these solutions any longer without disastrous effects to the quality of life and the business climate in Virginia.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Bob Chase
President, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance
Vienna
"While higher property taxes make headlines, it’s 'congestion taxes' – lost sleep, lost time, missed appointments and flights, increased stress/frustration and, perhaps most of all, lost opportunities to watch our children grow up – that cost Northern Virginia residents and businesses most dearly.
"Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, Fredericksburg and other outer community residents with punishing commutes pay the highest congestion taxes, making it particularly puzzling why many state Delegates from those areas oppose the funding necessary to improve transportation.
"Clearly paying a little more for better transportation will mean that everyone will pay a lot less in congestion taxes and have more time to spend with family and participating in other more productive pastimes.
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
Nancy Finch,
Executive Director, Virginians for High Speed Rail
Richmond
"Letters to the editor are appearing regularly from frustrated citizens asking, ‘Why aren’t we using rail for road relief?’ We’re all experiencing the frustrations as we get on our highways never knowing how long it will take to get where we need to go and how much gasoline we’ll burn while we sit in traffic.
"Those letter writers are correct. With more investment in passenger rail, we could allow many drivers to travel by train. They could enjoy a restful and easy commute, for those people traveling on business. The benefits of traveling by train are many – no stress, savings on car wear-and-tear, cleaner air and less gasoline burned. Investment in rail will help allow more shipping by rail and alleviate the large number of trucks from our already-congested roads.
“Improving Virginia’s rail system is going to take money – a lot of it, both federal and state funding. Planning for rail improvement and construction takes years, but much of the preliminary work has already been done.
“We just need our leaders to recognize that those folks who are motivated enough to write letters represent many more people who have the same views. Driving doesn’t have the appeal that it once did, but our rails and trains must be reliable, safe and fast in order to keep up.
"Funds proposed in the Senate budget are a start...only a start, but they are desperately needed. If House earmarks could join the Senate’s sustained rail funds, Virginia could celebrate a new day for rail."
"I support long-term, sustainable, dedicated, multimodal transportation funding."
