The Virginian-Pilot
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RICHMOND
State legislators from Virginia's two most populous regions, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, are getting together next week to see if they can find a way to work together to get a transportation bill passed in the General Assembly.
"In my 20 years we have never had a meeting like this out of session, not in Richmond and not associated with the Capitol to discuss an issue that clearly is important in both of those regions," said Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News.
The gathering is tentatively scheduled for May 7 at Dominion Virginia Power offices outside Richmond in Henrico County and is being organized by Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake.
"What I hope is that we will see that the Northern Virginia area and the Hampton Roads area are bound together because we both have road woes," said Cosgrove, chairman of the Hampton Roads Caucus. "I hope we'll be able to band together to try to support each other to fix our regional problems."
The meeting comes about one month after Cosgrove called together Hampton Roads lawmakers for a transportation summit in Suffolk in hopes of finding some consensus among local officials on how to pay for transportation projects. That consensus remains elusive, both in Hampton Roads and beyond.
When Gov. Timothy M. Kaine calls legislators back to Richmond for a special transportation session in the latter half of June, proposals ranging from gas and sales tax increases to tolls are likely to be part of the debate. The special session comes after several failed attempts in recent years to find more money to maintain older roads and build new ones.
Legislation that passed by the General Assembly in 2007 was intended to infuse billions into state road coffers. The package included about $3 billion in borrowing and set up regional authorities in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia that could collect new taxes and fees for roads.
But the state Supreme Court on Feb. 29 stuck down a large part of the plan when it ruled that unelected regional bodies don't have the constitutional power to collect taxes and fees.
With pieces of that package in shambles, lawmakers must decide if the regional approach can be fixed.
Some Northern Virginia lawmakers in the House of Delegates believe they can fix the package, while members of the Hampton Roads delegation seem inclined to alter both the local funding mechanism and the project lists.
"Whether it's moving goods from the port of Norfolk or technology workers in the tech corridor, both regions' economies need transportation solutions," Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said in an e-mail. "It's a good step to have the leaders of both regions sit down together and try to develop a solution that serves each region of the Commonwealth."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Once again, Reid, you fail
Once again, Reid, you fail to get the main point. The MPO plan is more about getting into and out of Hampton Roads and since the Feds pay for 90% or so, their rules apply. The congestion problem within Hampton Roads is the responsibility of the legislature and local governments. Over the last decade, under the "leadership" of the no tax increase republican delegates, our system has deteriorated to the point that bridges are closed and local projects that have been in the six year plan are simply cancelled, maintenance takes an increasing percentage of the tiny amount left, and by 2014, the Commponwealth will be in the maintenance mode with no state money available for new construction. This year, the piddling amount available last year was reduced statewide by 44%. Sure, you are entitled to your view; I just ask that you accept responsibility for the bill for $4,500,000,000 that the delay has cost us.
Where is it
What happened to the comment that I made and submitted an hour ago
Give it a rest
Give it a rest Reid. We all know the truth about the VBTA's transportation plans (hmm...before Jessica Blaine and Henry Ryto pointed it out: you never knew it was impossible to get around VB evenings and Sundays - that's telling for the VBTA Transportation Chairman). Yes, I agree the HRBT should be a part of any transportation projects. I also look forward to buses at night/Sundays as well as The Tide. No, we don't need a referendum and no we don't need craprail (Google 'An Open Invitation to Reid Greenmun'). Obviously, people overlook that The Tide is a STARTER LINE. Take the DC Metro for example, it started with Farragut North to Rhode Island Ave. Now look at it. I know we don't need something as expansive as Metro, but note how it all started. One small starter line.
It is all about the port - okay, then let the state pay for it
What we need is a plan that reduces commuter traffic congestion, not more speculative so-called "economic development" that taxes only the locals in Tidewater for the state-owned port and it's voluntary expansion plans.
What we need is to dump the MPO's 6 projects and draft a new set of projects that will actually increase lane capacity for our region's commuters.
Before we locals pay one more dime in taxes, fees, and tolls we need the right set of projects on the table. The HTA needs to be abolished and the TTF needs to be protected.