 |
 |
ISSUE FACT SHEET |
 |
Is there really a transportation funding crisis?
Absolutely. According to an October 2004 report by The Road Information Program (TRIP), Virginia's congested and deteriorating transportation system costs Virginians more than $4 billion every year due to increased fuel costs, lost time, greater incidence of accidents and more frequent repair bills.
And the worst is yet to come. Our transportation system will only become more congested.
- According to the TRIP report, Virginia's vehicle traffic has increased by 29 percent since 1990 and it is projected to increase by another 40 percent in 15 years. This translates to 108 billion vehicle miles of travel per year in Virginia by 2020.
- According to the Virginia Transit Association, from 1995 to 2000, public transportation passengers have increased by 24 percent and transit usage continues to increase faster than automobile usage.
- A report generated for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit indicates that Virginia Railway Express ridership more than doubled from 1997 to 2003.
- The preliminary VTRANS 2025 report states that the Port of Virginia will reach full operating capacity by 2010 unless improvements are made. It will require significant modernization and expansion to maintain its place as one of the most successful networks of cargo-handling marine terminals on the eastern seaboard.
- According to the preliminary VTRANS 2025 report, the effects of unprecedented international and domestic growth will require Virginia's commercial service airports to add new runways and expand passenger terminal and parking facilities in addition to addressing growing air cargo industry requirements. The costs of new capital improvements over the next twenty years are in excess of $5.5 billion.
|
Virginia's budget for new transportation construction and expansion projects is shrinking.
- In spite of the staggering numbers above, investment in Virginia's transportation system is in dramatic decline.
- During the 2004 General Assembly, a $1.4 billion tax plan was adopted that included new funds for education, public health and law enforcement, but no additional revenues for transportation.
- Due to the lack of funding and investment in transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board had to cut $1 billion from the Virginia Department of Transportation's originally proposed six-year works plan for years 2005-2010.
|
How does this affect our families?
Facts and figures, dollar signs and studies, it is a lot of information, but how does this relate to our families? Transportation is a quality-of-life issue for Virginians. It's about time not just the time it takes to plan and construct new transportation projects. It's about our personal time.
- We rely on our transportation system to get us to work on time and home before our kids go to bed.
- We rely on our transportation system to get our children to school and home safely.
- We rely on our transportation system to get to our kids' ballgames and dance recitals on time so we don't miss out on their big moments.
- We rely on our transportation system to allow police officers to quickly get to an accident scene.
- We rely on our transportation system to allow an ambulance to get our family members to the hospital in an emergency.
|
It is clear - the demands on our transportation system will continue to grow, but the resources are simply not available to meet those needs. And Virginia families just can't afford to wait. It is time to do something. This problem was not created overnight; it has been years in the making. While we recognize it is the responsibility of the General Assembly to find solutions, our coalition represents the many Virginians who believe it is irresponsible to wait any longer to address this issue.
|
|
|
