By Julian Walker and Warren Fiske
RICHMOND
Two Senate transportation funding bills that require raising the gas tax advanced in a subcommittee Tuesday, and a measure that would pump profits from offshore drilling into road needs was essentially killed on the second day of the General Assembly's special session.
Meanwhile, a House committee approved using tolls to help pay for major projects in Hampton Roads.
Aside from those developments, much of the day was occupied by political maneuvering and funding debates during a start-and-stop day of limited action that saw many bills shuffled between committees and subcommittees.
Pessimistic about the chances of a road deal before the session started, Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, said his expectations were dimmer after seeing two of his bills defeated.
"Things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse today," he said Tuesday, referring to the Democrat-controlled Senate committee deaths of several Republican road revenue bills.
Among those are Stolle's bill to use a portion of future Port of Virginia profits for road improvements; an offshore drilling bill by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach; and a measure proposed by Sen. Thomas Norment Jr., R-James City, to use some horse wagering proceeds for transportation.
Two Senate bills with momentum are SB6009 and SB6010, proposals pitched by Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William County, respectively.
Each is built around gas tax increases - Virginia last raised the 17.5 cent fuel levy in 1986 - and would provide money for state road maintenance and regional needs in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
"One way or another, people are going to pay," Saslaw said.
Saslaw's plan calls for a penny-per-gallon tax increase in each of the next six years. He said it would cost a motorist who drives 10,000 miles a year in a vehicle that gets 20 miles to the gallon an extra $5 a year in taxes.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine called legislators back to Richmond on Monday for a special session focused on transportation funding, He wants to raise $1.1 billion annually for roads through a series of new taxes.
Several Senate Democrats have introduced different proposals that would raise roughly the same amount. Senate and House Republicans want to avoid new taxes by finding extra money for roads already in state coffers, or from future revenues.
Tuesday saw the House of Delegates stick to their leaders' promise not to consider general tax bills until after the Senate has passed such measures.
Tolls, however, were another matter.
The House Transportation Committee approved HB6019, which would allow the Commonwealth Transportation Board to put tolls and rush-hour surcharges on four Hampton Roads projects. If the measure were to become law, the tolls would still need to be approved by the federal government. The bill does not specify when the tolls might be put in place.
The tolls would be charged at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. The proceeds would be earmarked to help add two lanes at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
Another toll would be put on Interstate 64 between Great Bridge and Bowers Hill to help pay for improvements to a high-rise bridge on I-64.
In addition, the bill would convert HOV lanes on I-64 to hot lanes that would require drivers to pay a toll.
Kaine opposes the bill, sponsored by Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News.
The governor wants to use some proceeds from new tolls in Hampton Roads to help pay for a third crossing of the James River, according to Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer.
The panel also approved HB6023, which would require a $6 million audit of the Virginia Department of Transportation by a private firm.
The House Privileges and Elections Committee also approved a constitutional amendment, HJ6001, that would prohibit the General Assembly from using transportation revenues to support other state programs.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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Gas
Look at the bright side, if gas prices increase, we won't need new taxes to fix gridlock...there won't be any cars on the highway.
Why
The reason they are doing a gas tax and tolls is so that those of us in the military contributes to the local goverment. I pay no VA taxes at all. My car is registered in FL where I maintain my residence. So buy increasing titleing fees and inspection fees will only affect the residents of Va. (remeber if military has VA tags the taxes are waved by showing out of state resident). The reason it is Hampton roads spacific is because all of us that don't pay VA taxes. Meanwhile the represenitives do the people they represent wrong. However, I lived in 4 other states and this place takes the cake in taxes. Which is why I won't change my residency
I like the tolls idea
The tolls are a user tax. If you are going to use it then pay for it. Tolls don't have to be at heavy gridlock area's to be effective. I don't object to some taxes as long as taking into consideration fixed income and the like. Not all of us can afford higher utilities, costs of food and everyting else plus higher taxes.
Traffic congestion is the problem,
and the solution is not just more pavement. More traffic lanes can easily be blocked by the same type driver who was congesting Shore Drive this morning. The driver was apparently a successful person; he was driving a 530 series BMW. But, he was so involved in his cell telephone conversation that he was obstructing one of the two lanes of traffic, the left lane for the most part, all the way from Great Neck Road to Northampton Blvd. He was very slow leaving traffic lights holding up at a minimum 10 cars behind him, and when he got to First Court Rd. he ran that red traffic light well after it had turned red. Legislators, take the steps to help the situation that don't cost us taxpayers money. Spend your political capital to improve traffic flow by banning the use of cell telephones by drivers.
Big mike is right
No new taxes.....Reduce spending in other areas.
Gas Tax math
An increase of $5 a year for year one, then another $5 increase for year 2 (thats $10) an so on for 6 years. Not just a penny a gallon, a penny a gallon, EACH year for 6 years! Way to be truthful with the increase. I also like Saslaw's attitude of "One way or another, people are going to pay". Thanks for looking out for us. I guess it is too much trouble to reduce spending. Maybe we could increase the gas tax $2 dollars. Just think if Saslaw plans to make hundreds of millions from a 6 cent increase, imagine how much money he could make from a $2 tax increase. Way to go!!!!
$6M Study
I agree with celticdreaming - why pay for yet another "study"? How about instead of paying $6M for the study, the goverment sends out a survey to all HR residents (.42 cents to get it to us and another .42 cents for "no postage necessary" return postage) and let us give our opinions. That cost plus the cost to tabulate the results would surely be less than $6M and would let the officials know exactly what we think/want/don't want. They'd also get credit for saving a few dollars.
Why just us?
I do not agree w/taxing just this area. It needs to be statwide. I know when I go to Roanoke or Blacksburg they have great roads & we(statewide)taxpayers helped pay for them. They used my funds(taxes) for their roads & believe it's only fair for them to do the same. But I know they won't go for that, especially since they already have their good roads. They (politicians)should equally spread the hurt to all Virginians, not just here. We helped them & they need to do the same for us. Don't just tax me, tax us all & we will have more funds for all. If I have to pay, we all should have to pay.
No Tolls
So why should the commuters who have to travel the roads designated for tolls have to pay more than the rest of us just so they can get to work to generate tax money? The only fair way to generate revenue for road projects is from revenue sources that ALL drivers pay such as the gas tax, vehicle registration fees, vehicle state inspection or vehicle sales tax. By spreading the tax burden to ALL drivers instead of targeting drivers who have to take a certain road as part of their daily commute you reduce the burden to everyone. Is that so hard to figure out? Yea there probably is money being used elsewhere that could be used or should have been used for transportation. That does need to be corrected. But if the gas tax has not changed in 20 some years and that is where the money for transportation projects is supposed to come from its past time to look at adjusting that tax to cover the increase in materials and labor. We all know today’s dollar is a whole lot smaller than it was twenty some years ago.
Please, Leave the HRBT alone
Placing a toll at the HRBT would only exacerbate the backlog of traffic that has become common place even outside of rush hour. Gas prices are breaking the glass ceiling; stop and go traffic on I-64 will not ease gas costs for motorists -- and let's not forget the ozone layer. We do want to protect the ozone layer, right?
Perhaps the House Transportation Committee can establish a task force comprised of citizens from the general public to generate creative and convenient ways to raise the funds. There's got to be a better way.
It's not the one cent. It's the total money grab of legislators.
Let's quote,"One way or another, people are going to pay, Saslaw said". Now let's change the words around a little. How about; People are already paying and have been paying for some time. But we (the elected officials) want more, so we can pay for our pet projects and provide huge incomes for our friends and family. That would be a more accurate statement, would it not? The waste of our transportation dollars is huge, we are paying for projects that have nothing to do with transportation, with transportation funds. Then we're paying billions for useless projects (interstate cameras, electronic signs, hurricane gates, multitude of un-neccessary lights...) Let's force Richmond to be responsible with the existing funds before we allow them to pick our pockets for more. It's time to vote these bunch of corrupt, complacent and out of touch idiots out. But we won't, because WE are STUPID!
Another audit? Again? Why?
There have already been half a dozen or more audits and now they want to spend ANOTHER 6 mil $ for one more. Please. There's one more waste of our money. And no, I don't like the toll idea for I-64 here in Hampton Roads. It seems like most of the tolls would be on the western part of the region. Chesapeake, Norfolk, Newport News, etc. Where are the tolls for 264? Or don't the residents of Va Beach also have to contribute on a daily basis like the people who daily use the HRBT? Or the Monitor Merrimac? 264 used to have tolls. Should do it again, in addition to the other tolls already noted. It would help. Might even help to slow down some of the crazy drivers on the 264 road and ease up the amount of traffic. I don't mind the 1 cent gas tax. It's been over 20 years since they've raised it. Seems like it's time.