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Transportation forum identifies unique solutions for state's woes

By EDIE GROSS

Date published: 6/15/2005

In the market for a toll road? How about a bridge over the Chesapeake Bay?

No one's erecting a For Sale sign on any of Virginia's major transportation facilities just yet, but House Speaker Bill Howell wants the state to at least consider the idea of selling off or leasing some properties to pay for other road projects.

Howell made the unorthodox suggestion yesterday during a transportation forum in Fredericksburg sponsored by the regional chamber of commerce.

"Just think what we could do if we sold the Dulles Toll Road and the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel and got a check for $3 billion," Howell said during a panel discussion at the Holiday Inn Select in Central Park.

"What could the commonwealth do with $3 billion? It's an exciting concept," he said.

Howell stressed that it's far from a done deal. But the Virginia Reform Initiative, a nonprofit set up by Howell last year to study ways to incorporate private-sector reforms into state business, is analyzing whether the state could benefit from such a proposal.

Howell pointed out that cash-strapped Chicago leased the Chicago Skyway bridge to a private consortium this year.

The city received a $1.8 billion check for the 99-year lease, enough to pay off the debt on the bridge and support other projects. Meanwhile, the consortium will operate and maintain the skyway but gets to keep any toll and concession revenue.

A lease like that wouldn't solve all of Virginia's transportation money woes, but it might provide a needed cash infusion, Howell said.

"It's very radical when you first hear about it," he said. "It's not going to fix [U.S.] 17 and Route 3. But it's going to free up money to fix 17 and 3."

Howell told the 100 or so people attending the forum that he's opposed to increasing the state's 17.5-cent gas tax, which has remained the same for nearly 20 years.

Other members of the panel suggested the state look at upping the gas tax as well as other creative solutions.

For instance, if the state sells the Dulles Toll Road and drivers have to pay higher tolls, what's the difference between that and paying higher gas taxes? asked Steve Haner, vice president of public policy for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

"Everybody sort of needs to think this through," he said.

Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 6/15/2005