Promising alliance for urban regions

For three and a half hours Wednesday, 30 lawmakers from Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia had the audacity to put problem-solving ahead of politics in a remarkable gathering motivated by their regions’ shared transportation crisis.

Organizer Del. John Cosgrove of Chesapeake instructed colleagues to check their partisan credentials at the door and think of themselves as the “new urban majority.” Most embraced the term with enthusiasm and accepted the responsibility that comes with it.

“Once we label ourselves a new urban majority, then people are going to expect us to deliver,” said Del. Ken Plum of Fairfax.

Whether they can deliver is an open question.

Participants left the meeting imagining the power of a political re-alignment in the commonwealth devoted to the interests of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. But they were seasoned enough to brace for the inevitable pummeling from senior lawmakers who feel threatened when their troops show signs of thinking for themselves.

The group did not agree on a detailed transportation plan, or settle on specific tax increases to fund it. Hashing out a final deal will be difficult.

Still, lawmakers coalesced around a rough framework for a solution, which is in itself a big step ahead.

A strong majority agreed that new statewide revenues are needed for highway maintenance in addition to regional taxes and fees for projects in the two regions.

They concluded the new maintenance money should be divided to guarantee a greater share for urban regions. They want the legislature, not local governments, to accept responsibility for funding the plan.

The lawmakers talked about their power if they can stick together. Noting that the state ports in Hampton Roads and Dulles International Airport are Virginia’s most important economic engines, they stressed the need to collectively make the case that those assets must be supported by a healthy road system.

“If we fix Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, we benefit the entire state,” said Del. Glenn Oder, who came up with the idea for the summit. “They need the goods and services and the jobs and economic prosperity that comes out of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.”

The legislators also spoke bluntly about the obstacles they face. House Speaker Bill Howell opposes statewide taxes, while Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw insists on a substantial gas tax hike. Their refusal to compromise guarantees that any plan the two regions propose will be snuffed out without allowing a full debate on its merits.

“Whoever has influence needs to talk to them, and it would be very helpful to this group if they would talk to each other,” said Senate Transportation Chairwoman Yvonne Miller of Norfolk.

Howell and Saslaw were noticeably absent from Wednesday’s gathering, but they are not so foolish as to ignore the restiveness in the room.

Seniority, the committee system and party discipline may succeed in preserving the status quo this year. But 30 of their brightest understudies spent several hours this week contemplating how to make the political might of their two regions equal to their combined economic might.

That’s an image they won’t soon forget.