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| Mon, Nov. 30 - - Mobile - RSS | |
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Area transportation authority called 'a work in progress'
Presentation on regional transportation authority given to board members; lots of questions raised
Date published: 9/19/2007
By KELLY HANNON A first look at the potential for a Fredericksburg area transportation authority drew mostly questions from area elected officials. Words and phrases such as "framework," "beginning," and "everything's on the table" were tossed out at the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's board meeting Monday night. "This is a work in progress," said Mark Dudenhefer, a Stafford supervisor. "This is a good start," said Bob Gibbons, also a Stafford supervisor. "We want to look at every option," said Matt Kelly, FAMPO's chair and a Fredericksburg councilman. A regional authority could allow the Fredericksburg area to fund road and transit projects by issuing bonds or levying taxes and fees in a geographical boundary. That's what Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia are allowed to do, under powers granted to those regions by the Virginia General Assembly. Fredericksburg would need approval from the General Assembly to form an authority. Kelly has said the region would not approach the state until the 2009 session. After a consultant wrapped up a short presentation about transportation authority powers, most FAMPO members wanted additional information. Spotsylvania County Administrator Randy Wheeler said he had a "vast number of questions and some concerns." He asked for a separate meeting with Robert Wilson, executive director of the George Washington Regional Commission, and Lloyd Robinson, FAMPO administrator and director of transportation planning, to talk about them. Wheeler did ask a few questions Monday night. One was what a transportation authority could achieve on projects that Spotsylvania could not do as an individual locality. "That's an open question for me that's got to be answered," Wheeler said. Robinson said an authority could target funding to large transportation projects, speeding up the project schedule. It could help the region's localities work together to lobby for funds and coordinate projects, he said. "Roads don't end at county lines. They go into the next county," Robinson said. An authority could also oversee public transit. This could include FREDericksburg Regional Transit. Spotsylvania supervisor Hap Connors criticized state legislators who said they would not support an authority in the Fredericksburg area.
Date published: 9/19/2007
Are you Serious?
(posted by
FredDude07
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Just another level of bureaucracy to in the process of getting anything accomplished...
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