Spotsy looks at joining railway
Spotsylvania supervisors want state gas tax reimbursement for VRE
Date published: 7/25/2007
By DAN TELVOCK
Spotsylvania County supervisors want state officials to return some gas tax revenue generated here and to soften contract terms with Virginia Railway Express.
If those things happen, a majority of supervisors are willing to be paying members of the commuter rail service.
In 2005, Spotsylvania voters approved $12 million for a new VRE station as part of a bond referendum package, but the supervisors have been reluctant to join because of mandated 2 percent gas tax to fund the county's share of operations. Some supervisors also believe the VRE contract terms don't allow a locality to withdraw. Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization members said a locality can withdraw from VRE if its financial obligations are met.
"It is not impossible [to withdraw], but it is so difficult that it would basically make it impossible," is how Supervisor Chris Yakabouski paraphrased a memo from County Attorney Jacob Stroman.
"We want to support commuter rail, but it is absurd that Richmond forces us to raise the gas tax to join," Yakabouski said.
To send a clear message, supervisors recently passed three resolutions that address dwindling state transportation funding and their concerns with VRE.
Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, and Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, both doubted the requests would find support.
But supervisors aren't discouraged.
"That's what [state legislators] said about impact fees for so many years and we ended up getting it passed," said Supervisor Hap Connors.
Cole said he's tried twice to pass legislation that would give localities other options to fund VRE.
"Realistically, it's probably not going to go anywhere because other localities have already joined with the 2 percent gas tax," Cole said.
As for the criticism aimed at the General Assembly for state transportation responsibilities, Cole said local governments need to better manage growth.
"The root cause of the transportation gridlock is the rampant growth and sprawl in the area," Cole said. "The General Assembly didn't zone a bit of the county. Those were all local decisions."
Mass transit must be a part of the overall transportation plan to make any kind of dent in gridlock, Houck said. Although he's been frustrated with VRE service, Spotsylvania County needs to join to make a difference, he said.
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Resolution expressing support for greater flexibility with contract terms for VRE membership passed 5 to 2 with Emmitt Marshall and T.C. Waddy against it.
Resolution requesting the governor and General Assembly to appropriate funds to Spotsylvania County in recognition of the county's assumption of transportation responsibilities traditionally handled by the state passed 6 to 1 with Waddy against it.
Resolution expressing support for greater flexibility and funding options with VRE and concerns about the county's assumption of transportation responsibilities traditionally handled by the state passed 5 to 2 with Marshall and Waddy against it. |
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Date published: 7/25/2007
Most recent reader comments:
It's now time
(posted by
vaswtness
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
VRE has been around for 15 years. Spotsy residents have commuted to Fredbg and Stafford to park their cars and get on the train. Enough is enough. The supervisors need to get with the program and not worry about withdrawing from a contract. I don't foresee that ever happening; not with the development and growth in this county. Traffic is bad enough already and I don't see it getting any better...ever. You're worried about the 2% gas tax; well maybe thos counties need to start charging Spotsy 2%.
Why is it so hard to understand
(posted by
winwood
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Money spent on mass transit goes much further than any other form of transportation alternative.
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