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Date published: 1/25/2013
Associated Press
NEWPORT NEWS
--Gov. Bob McDonnell made a direct appeal on Thursday to residents in some of the state's most congested regions to ask their lawmakers to support his transportation funding proposal.McDonnell wants to eliminate the state's 17.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax and replace it with a sales tax increase of less than a penny on the dollar. Virginia would be the first state to eliminate the gas tax if the General Assembly approves the measure, which McDonnell contends is necessary to provide a long-term funding solution for transportation.
He said the gas tax is losing value against inflation and that a growing influx of more-fuel-efficient vehicles and those that don't use gasoline make relying on the gas tax unsustainable.
The tax on diesel fuel--primarily used by heavy commercial vehicles that disproportionately damage roads--would remain, however. McDonnell's proposal would also impose a $100 fee on hybrid cars.
McDonnell held news conferences in Newport News and Herndon to tout his plan in front of local media, as well as on a conference call with media in Roanoke.
"I'm asking for help. Call your legislators and let them know you want better transportation infrastructure," McDonnell said in front of a bank of television cameras at Huntington Ingalls Industries.
Among other things, the five-year, $3.1 billion proposal would expand Interstate 64 between Newport News and Williamsburg. It would also provide additional funding for rail and transit projects, such as providing passenger rail service to Roanoke and funding the extension of the Metrorail line in Northern Virginia to Dulles International Airport.