With a faltering economy and holes blown into last year’s landmark transportation plan, Virginia will have $1.1 billion less to spend on roads in the next six years.
Hit especially hard are the sources of money that Hampton Roads relies on to improve most of its key non interstate thoroughfares. Those funds will decline about 44 percent from the previous six-year period .
“Forty-four percent is close to half of our construction money for urban, secondary and primary programs,” Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer said. “That’s a very significant loss of funding.”
A deflating housing market, a dip in auto sales and elimination of the short-lived and controversial abusive-driver fees generally are blamed for the decline in state revenue .
A recent Virginia Supreme Court ruling denying regional transportation authorities the power to levy taxes for new highway construction projects is not related to this portion of the state’s financial problems.
Transportation planners had been warned that leaner times were ahead. Now, a week after Virginia lawmakers approved a two-year, $77 billion state budget, they are reviewing specific projects to determine which ones will have to wait longer.
The decline is a bitter pill for cities that had seen a brief increase in local funding after the transportation bill brought the first significant infusion of new money for roads and rail projects in two decades.
“The primary, secondary and urban funds are at 25 percent of their high marks of 15 years ago,” said Dwight Farmer , deputy executive director for transportation at the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. “When you account for inflation, we’re getting one-tenth of what we were getting in the early 1990s.”
The final decision on which projects to fund will come in June when the Commonwealth Transportation Board votes on its six-year budget.
Until then, city officials across Hampton Roads will again have to delay local road projects, raising the possibility that some improvements might never be completed because inflation will outstrip the state’s ability to save money for them.
Transit funding will suffer a 10 percent reduction, officials have said.
Interstate maintenance is relatively safe because, by law, it must be funded before new interstate construction projects. Because of funding constraints, the already small budget for new interstate work will shrink even more.
In the cities where state money is crucial for ongoing roadwork, the projected decline in noninterstate funds will hit hard.
John M. Keifer , Norfolk’s director of public works, said he expects further delays in the planned widening of Military Highway near Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital.
That $95 million plan would alleviate congestion between Robin Hood and Lowery roads with more travel lanes and a rebuilt interchange at Robin Hood near Norfolk International Airport.
The project has been a priority since the late 1980s, but the shortage of money is expected to delay its start date beyond 2015, Keifer said.
Portsmouth has been saving money for an $11.6 million widening of Turnpike Road between Frederick Boulevard and Constitution Avenue but has to delay the work until money is in hand.
“It’s been part of our long-range plan since 1986,” said Richard Hartman , Portsmouth’s city engineer.
All of Portsmouth’s urban road allocation from the state is devoted to repaying the state for rebuilding the Pinners Point
interchange, completed in 2005.
John Fowler , the city engineer in Virginia Beach, said the planned reductions will allow the city and VDOT to keep alive only about half a dozen of the Beach’s top 14 urban projects.
The widening of Birdneck Road and a portion of Lynnhaven Parkway will continue, he said, as will planning for an extension of Nimmo Parkway, the widening of Princess Anne Road from Dam Neck Road to the Municipal Center, and improvements to the Princess Anne/Kempsville Road intersection.
“Jobs that have been deferred for some time are just going to be delayed again,” he said.
Despite the new budget, local lawmakers have said they will push for repairs to the tattered transportation plan. The delegation representing Hampton Roads is scheduled to meet
April 3 in Suffolk to discuss transportation should Gov. Timothy M. Kaine call for another special session on the subject.
Even if the Hampton Roads lawmakers can agree on a plan, they might find it difficult to win approval in the House. GOP leaders are skeptical of any plan to raise taxes, particularly if it requires state approval.
“That would be extremely difficult to get out of the House,” House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith , R-Salem, said Tuesday.
Staff Writer Warren Fiske contributed to this report.
Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com
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Moot Point
This is all a moot point anyway. By the time they get around to funding and then actually building these road improvements, no one but the wealthy will be driving due to the high cost of gas.
Keith claims that the six
Keith claims that the six projects were the result of backroom deals and were pushed down the throats of the citizens of Hampton Roads. Clearly, he gets his news from the VNS, that newspaper that is the epitome of yellow journalism and barely has the credibility of a rag. Fact is, the federal law requires that the MPO, which in this area is comprised by the chief elected official in each of the sixteen political jurisdictions, review the technical data and the scientific information required by federal law, and develop a plan that is "resource constrained." That is, you have to show that you can pay for the plan within present and proposed financial resources. That plan has to be approved by the Commonwealth Tranpsortation Board at the state level, and then it goes to the FHA where it is checked for compliance with the federal regulations. To suggest that these six projects are just a back room deal is as ignorant of the state and federal requirements as it is absurd. Ideology trumps fact and technical expertise everytime for an anti tax zealot.
Re Regardless....
Hmm.. Great Idea Ira....wonder if there is a way to squeeze the money out of the "Tarheels", since they do seem to be able to afford shoes these days, and automobiles as well......lol
Transportation
TD writes "Since we don't want to pay for new roads with taxes/fees/tolls, we will pay for the lack of roads with congestion, delay, and business stagnation. Pick your poison."
I don't think it is totally a question about taxes and tolls, but what road projects these taxes, fees, tolls and such were going to be spent on. The six transportation projects are being sold to the public as a relief to gridlock and congestion. With the exception of widening of I-64, the only relief in gridlock and congestion would be for the ports. The proposed third crossing is the most expensive and the most widely debated as well as US-460, and the SE Parkway. There is major disagreement on the actual benefits to the relief of congestion and gridlock to the common commuters in Tidewater. In my humble opinion, these projects were back room deals and shoved down the throats of the people of Tidewater. I don't believe that there would be as much objection to new taxes or tolls if these projects provided the relief that has been advertised.
Regardless
Either way, you folks need to work something out. Those of us in North Carolina need your roads to drive on.
still on that same tangent ...
let it go virginia pilot "elimination of the short-lived and controversial abusive-driver fees generally are blamed for the decline in state revenue"; you are still trying to convince the people that the abusive-driver fees were a great revenue source. what a joke. first off it wasn't abusive-drivers that ended up getting hit with the fees, but good drivers that were caught doing stupid things, like going more than 5 miles over the limit in a 25 mph zone. none of the dui or any of the other abusive drivers that like to go 85 mph or more in a 55 mph were slapped with those fines. it's over already, accept it and move on.
If you want to raise funds
If you want to raise funds for this project for better roads..find another way than raising taxes..or better yet, all you tax nuts out there that think we aren't giving enough..send half your paycheck to the government marked "for roads" but leave my measly pay alone that I have left to live off of...
Why not put up the tolls as it was proposed for those using those roads, or better yet, why not legalize online gambling and collect the fees from licenses and taxes from these entitites to supply a fresh bounty of dollars (in the billions)...why must it always be "RAISE THE TAXES" from the blood of the poor taxpayer?...
I choose to not to raise taxes until one can account for all the expenditures on pet projects that never turn out quite right in the end..but, if you feel the need to donate your dollars..go for it..just leave the few that I have left, ALONE!
JMO
I have to ditto jmo's last post. Concise and to the point. Well said!
Richard
You make some great points. However, the Legislature does not seem to want to cut spending anywhere else to redirect funds to transportation. This debate about transportation funding has been front burner at every legislative session for at least the last six years, but nothing substantive ever seems to change. Yes transportation is a priority, but everything else is a priority too, and with no leadership, nothing is really a priorty and it is business as usual.
Legislators don't want to cause pain for anybody, so no spending will be cut. They don't want to cause pain for anybody, so no taxes will be increased. However, the population keeps growing, the economy (hopefully) keeps growing, which means business activity keeps growing, and transportation is a key element of business activity, particularly in a port city. Since we don't want to pay for new roads with taxes/fees/tolls, we will pay for the lack of roads with congestion, delay, and business stagnation. Pick your poison.
taxes
I find it very sad that this paper and certain individuals hail it as a major accomplishment of leadership, courage and foresight to RAISE TAXES. How hard is that?!? Add a dollar fee to this service, a percentage increase to that charge-anybody could do that. What really would show leadership is a well conceived budget, with well chosen priorites, based on current revenue(or declining given the current economy). When I drove back from Richmond today and saw the $11,000,000 TOILETS in New Kent County, I thought now there's a sign and symbol of our leaders. Were those governor's mansions really more important than the roads themselves? Somehow the legislators in NC get by with no personal property taxes and no recording taxes on land transfers, among many other items, but ours can't. Most people don't mind paying some taxes, but they would feel much better about it if they had confidence that the money was wisely spent.
VB
Virginia Beach is going to give developers at Pembroke Millions for a parking garage, bridges and parking inprovements. Let's stop developer welfare and invest in roads.
Tell us, please
Mike has it right. Please put up or shut up about the development projects that are subsidized by tax payers. VB Town Center subsidized? Every property owner there pays a special assessment over and above the normal city tax rate to reimburse the city for the parking garages. I don't call that a subsidy, I call that paying for what you get.
Oh, the 31st St Hotel is subsidized, right? Wrong, it pays a ground rent to the city for the right to have the building there. It also generates a ton of sales, hotel and real estate taxes that would not be paid by a park.
Guess what folks! Real estate developments are typically not subsidized by you! It just doesn't happen! Get your facts straight on that score.
Money saving idea alert!
Deport, not support, illegal aliens. Instant return on your investment, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who would gladly pay/donate/get taxed or what ever you want to call it to make it happen. At least I know the money I'm giving this state is going to a good cause. Not a light rail train to the mall.
We are not in denial..we are
We are not in denial..we are irate in being taxed till we bleed for things we don't want but is done anyway due to votes from councils, and whoever feels a need to spend MY tax dollars needlessly.
Find another way to do the roads since the funds for them have been squandered over and over again on needless projects...I am tired of working 4 months out of the year to pay taxes for idiots that can't decide whether we should build empty hotels and subsidize it to boot and such for an area where there is no parking for the guests..how idiotic can one get..
Yes, I am tired of paying out of my nose for fluff projects one thinks up in the middle of the night..I would like to be able to use my hard earned dollars before mid year, ya know? I have bills too..not just pork projects you offer..and then want me to pay for it..
You build a house
Then as it's being built the contractor comes up to you & states he's going to need another 10% above the estimate to complete the project. Do you blindly give it to him? Or do you question the need & ask to look over the paperwork?
Mr. Barrett would have you believe that in this situation you should just blindly sign a blank check & not ask questions. Otherwise you're a Zealot & a Boo Bird.
However; this is exactly what we are doing. We are asking our "leaders" to be fiscally sound & responsable.
If my employer cut's my wages by 10% I can't just take another 10% from my employer by force to make up the difference. If my employer told me I was going to get a 10% raise & I start spending like I'm going to get 10% then I'M THE FOOL. Because if he turns around & I get 3% then I've been foolish with money that I didn't have. It's not a loss.
If I'm a Boo Bird for asking my elected leaders to live by the same standard that I have to then so be it. But in a contracting economy how can you justify larger sums from the people? You Can't...
Well, let's be clear. I
Well, let's be clear. I have posted that many of the posters continue to state that the projects which I have developed have received subsidies from the government. I have pointed out over and over again in this and other forums that if anyone has any information that would back up that accusation, feel free to post it. Of course, no one has, yet the idiots continue to post false and inaccurate accusations about which they know nothing. When I confront them on that particular issue, they take offense and accuse be of bullying or offensive tactics. I don't agree with that; if you are going to make inaccurate and personal accusations about me or the compay I work for, then have the decency to prove or support your contention or keep you mouth shut about which you know nothing. In regard to the transportation issue, it is clear that posters feel absolutely free to post the most inane nonsense I have ever read, but of course, that is their right to do so.
Yay
No new people! New people = new development = new roads = new development = new people!
No new jobs! New jobs = new people = (see above)!
No new growth! Growth = opportunity. No growth = stagnation = deterioration = decline = decay = degeneration = YAY!
:)
as i have said...
Mike said then you ought to be even more concerned about the inaction of the Legislature and the Governor.
I have repeatedly said that they need to act or resign. Many people have said this. But because we disagree on what the projects should be and how they should be paid for, we are apparently viewed as uneducated trolls that have nothing better to do than cause you grief.
Yes, people post here about things that they no little or nothing about. But there are legitimate arguments presented here that should not be dismissed simply because we are not in the same social strata as the likes of you.
jmo
Well, I am certainly glad
Well, I am certainly glad you got the message. I sure did not mean to suger coat it at all. Those who post as if they had a clue about the development process should either put up or post about something about which they have a clue. And of course, if you care one wit about your local commute, then you ought to be even more concerned about the inaction of the Legislature and the Governor. For as the article in the Pilot points out, the normal money made available to local government from the Commonwealth is now nearly all gone, and with the House of Delegates essentially held hostage by the anti tax zealots in the republican party, it won't be sonn restored. Forget the six regional projects which for now are gone, but we don't have money for the choke points for our local commutes. Thanks General Assembly for failing even the most basic test of governing.
Hope you anti-tax zealots are happy
You won't be content until we are back to horse-and-buggy travel.