Virginians deserve a solid, sustainable transportation plan now
Date published: 3/10/2008
I propose to fight it out along this line if it takes all summer.
--Ulysses S. Grant, 1864
HOUSE of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell rightly says that the court-nixed regional-funding component of the 2007 transportation plan could be legislatively fixed "in two hours." Changing the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads authorities created by that law from taxing agents, which the state Supreme Court found unconstitutional, to administrative agents for other taxing bodies (local governments, the General Assembly) would require a few pen strokes, a few perfunctory votes.
The Stafford County Republican is also right that merely dumping money on VDOT, which still has room for reform, is no guarantee that Virginia's mobility needs will be met; that localities' land-use decisions can make road dollars do more; and, not least, that the 2007 act generates useful transportation funding.
Yet the doughnut tire in a driver's trunk can be useful, too, if his regular one develops a fast leak, which describes Virginia's transportation network before Richmond acted last year. But no sensible person tries to drive far on a doughnut. That's why the General Assembly should seize the moment created by the court and slap four high-performance radials on state transportation, replacing the Krispy Kremes of 2007.
Exaggeration? Consider: (1) Even if the 2007 plan's regional aspect is repaired, Virginia overall faces more than $1 billion in unfunded statewide maintenance needs (never mind new construction), including $260 million this very year, notes Virginians for Better Transportation. (2) While the current plan may yield $1 billion per year (much via new debt), a 2004 GA study put Virginia's 20-year mobility deficit just for roads and bridges at $74.2 billion. (3) This work looms partly because inflation has shrunk by 40 percent transportation dollars generated by the state gas tax since 1987, when the tax was last raised.
The state Senate proposes tax and fee increases to finance a lasting, statewide transportation program. Now it's time for the main architect of the 2007 law and its main enabler to take the stage.
Mr. Howell should throw his support to the Senate's funding ideas--especially the highway-user-paid gas tax--bringing as many GOP delegates as possible with him. This would cost him the speakership, he would have to caucus with lepers and tramps, and Grover Norquist would have kittens. But such a sacrificial move would win him an honorable place in the annals of state governance--and keep faith with the congestion-vexed voters who elected him to improve traffic movement here.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kaine should call a special legislative session and keep it going, Grant-like, until Virginians' future mobility is vouchsafed. Posterity praises boldness, which doesn't tee off contemporary Virginians, either.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 3/10/2008
I am sorry to say....(posted by
gramps
, Mar. 11, 2008 2:03 pm)
that Mr. Howell is an arrogant idiot. I am even sorrier to say that he is that way because he knows he will be reelected, no matter what happens. I am even more sorry to say that he is not alone down there in Richmond.
Mr. Howell(posted by
winwood
, Mar. 10, 2008 4:18 pm)
Last year I asked Mr. Howell if he would raise taxes a dime if it could solve our transportation problems. "No" he quickly answered. Then I asked if politicians should rely on negotiations and give and take when an impass stalls legislation, to which he smuggly replied, I'll negotiate on my terms. I thought I was talking to a spoiled child, "either I get my way or no way.
Agrre on gas tax(posted by
Talisman
, Mar. 10, 2008 3:42 pm)
I agree that raising the gas tax will not fix everything. It is a 1st step in the right direction. The fact is we voted these people into office to do a job that they are now trying to push off on the localities to do. This whole idea of HOT is a simple admission that they don't have the knowledge or wherewithal to take charge and fix the problem. I'll never say I simply know the answer but they ran for office telling us they did know the answer and it appears now they haven't got a clue.
Gov. Kaines answer is to sell ourselves(posted by
Dana1
, Mar. 10, 2008 1:36 pm)
Gov. Kaine is negotiating the 80 year lease that will hand over control of a local portion of I-95, the part we all use, to a foreign company (Transurban). The foreign company will rename them HOT Lanes. They will charge us $50 one way to get to DC. on our own roads! They will install their own police in the HOT Lanes. No more state troopers. You think that's a better solution? To prostitute ourselves to foreign countries? What will we hawk next?
re: real solutions and the gas tax(posted by
larryg
, Mar. 10, 2008 12:42 pm)
I would urge anyone who thinks raising the gas tax is a sustainable funding solution to go read this:
http://tinyurl.com/ywlbd9
The gas tax is almost dead as a viable funding solution.
It only worked when fuel was cheap and cars got crappy mileage.
Folks who say they are truly interested in solutions - need to - as step 1 - recognize that raising the gas tax is not the answer.
If we are going to do something, let's at least be intelligent enough to accept some realities first.
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