Those who portray the Navy as a problem never seem to remember incidents like the mass deployments of late 1990 and early 1991 in response to Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The tidewater area depends more on the Navy paycheck spent on the economy than most realize... like local business owners whining about the money not being spent by military families while service members were deployed.

Transferring ships to another homeport will have minimal impact, be careful what you wish for... you might just get it.

Lay the blame where it belongs... with the state legislature and voting public who elected them... the transportation issues of this area have been ignored for far too long and now it is time to pay the piper.

In fact, why don't we get rid of all the big employers or maybe increase, say, the tools tax to pay for the roads? Perhaps maybe ask the tourist industry to leave? That would clear up some of the roads! I have a better idea, instead of looking for more and more ways to get money, why not look for more efficient ways to spend it? How many times have you seen a VDOT crew standing around watching one guy work? How about these new Taj-ma-restrooms that they have built along the interstates? And, how many years is it going to take them to finish that clusterfoxtrot out in Greenbrier when a private management group could have it done in a quarter of the time?

Carrier = Tax Revenue

how many ways citizens in this area can paint the USN as the enemy. It certainly could not be poor planning by political leaders could it???

Sometimes you have to be careful what you pray for as you just might get it. I heard the German folks in certain villages begging us to go away and leave them alone for a couple of years while I lived there. Then the drawdowns began and bases were being closed. Can you believe how quickly most German shopkeepers, garage owners, and restaurant proprietors started saying they wished we would stay!? Cheers, Mary G. Martin

I agree with you Randy, the DOD should pay something toward this traffic issue. I see nothing wrong with the Navy (not uniformed member) paying a modest amount. I do not advocate a gouge, but something, perhaps an annual charge per ship ton. Also, I feel those container ships should pay a modest amount per ton as they are a large part of the problem. In other words a toll imposed on what goes over those tunnels along with what goes through the tunnels.

When you think about all the money our government "blows" a modest traffic fee is, in my mind, not asking too much. And, yes, I'm retired military so it's not like I'm anti Navy. The more cost that can be spread out over those that use the roads/tunnels the better. The passed on cost for a container ship fee would be passed on to all of America, thus pennies per the individual. I think a Grantors tax on the homeowner is outrageous and has nothing to do with the road issue. If it does, than a renters tax should also be considered. Just my opinion!!

Randy I understand where you are coming from living in Suffolk...The military in this area bring in a lot of taxes when they spend their money here...I'm guessing your not a store or shop owner making a living off of shopers...sometimes you have to take the bad with the good...The military is nothing but good for this region period