The Virginian-Pilot
©
Hampton Roads once again is getting less than its fair share of state funding to build and improve roads, a transportation official said Tuesday.
The state's proposed revisions to the six-year road-building plan are "a severe blow in tough financial times when we need the help the most," said Dwight Farmer, executive director of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization.
Many improvements to local highways have been slashed over the past year and a half as the Virginia Department of Transportation cut $4.6 billion out of the road-building budget. In this most recent round, funding is set to be eliminated for widening Interstate 64 on the Peninsula and improving the I- 64/I-264 interchange.
Farmer outlined "issues of great concern" in a letter presented at a public hearing Tuesday night in Richmond. He noted that while the state is proposing an overall increase of about 3 percent in the fiscal year 2010 budget for road construction, Hampton Roads' share would decrease by 13 percent.
Hampton Roads is the only area in the state that would have a reduction, Farmer said. Northern Virginia would see a 5 percent boost in funding.
In addition, the region would get no interstate funds in 2011, which Farmer said is unprecedented. In that same year, Northern Virginia would get $225 million, or 93.2 percent of the state's interstate money.
Farmer said Hampton Roads' funding outlook improves in 2015 with nearly $100 million in interstate allocations. But the six-year plans are revised regularly, and Farmer wrote that he has "no confidence that the strategy would hold for the long term."
Over the six years, Hampton Roads would get 15.3 percent of interstate funds and Northern Virginia would get 66.5 percent. The remaining 18.2 percent would go to the rest of the state.
A planning organization analysis conducted after the last round of transportation cuts over the summer shows that during a 12-year period, the region's share of state interstate funding is 16.6 percent, compared with Northern Virginia's 57.6 percent. Farmer also criticized VDOT's strategy to direct limited funding to projects already under way or about to get under way.
"This practice makes it virtually impossible for Hampton Roads to advance any new interstate projects due to the lack of funding required to make the projects ready to go," he stated in the letter.
Tuesday's public hearing was on VDOT's proposal to cut $851.5 million from road-building operations over the next six years. The cuts would be made mostly to VDOT administration, highway maintenance and equipment purchases. The total plan, however, remains approximately the same, at $7.6 billion.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board is expected to vote on the revisions Dec. 17.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Boys, boys, stop bickering
There's more good news out there for people who wish the republicans and their anti-everything (including roads) party would just dry up and blow away:
The republicans' war within:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/13/AR2009121303042.html
My favorite line comes from a republican under fire from the far right fringe who complains of the ""Taliban purist elements" of his party.
The republican coalition of fruit loops, religious nuts, gun lovers and high school-educated constitutional experts is crumbling. It will fragment among Ron Paul and all the other right ring loonies looking for the crazy vote.
Want better roads? The first step would be to clean out the general assembly.
Oh don't be like that Mike!
Oh don't be like that Mike! Com'on. Besides, you haven't proven YOUR point that an increase in the gas taxes and fees will resolve OUR transportation issues here. The only thing you can come up with is throw more of OUR money at it and things will be all better for us. Anyway, you will have to tell me where I can find this republican play book you are talking about and the list of excuses and myths. Appaently you are the only one who has access to them.
End of discussion
Thanks for proving my point. You use excuse number 20 from the republican play book, that is, the Transportation Trust Fund is used to fund K-12 education, as another reason why you won't suppport an increase in the gas tax. Of course, that excuse, just like every other you have offered, is simply incorrect, but that won't stop you from using it anyway. Point is, you would never agree to a higher gas tax, period. End of discussion. Have a nice day, and try to avoid those pot holes on I-264.
Stll waiting for my beer
So you have excuses and myths already listed and numbered? Are they posted somewhere? Maybe I could just say... well use excuse number 22 instead of typing a whole paragraph. Fact is Mike is that you assume throwing other peoples money at every little whim will fix whatever issue that befalls whatever entity of government with no considered thought to the hardships they may cause ones who can't afford it. You assume that since 22 1/2 cents a gallon or whatever figure that may be implemented will have no ill effect on you then it shouldn't have any effect on someone else. With all the foreclosures and job losses, I cannot fathom a tax increase on anything. Anyway, until taxes, fees, funds, or whatever collected for transportation are constitutionally protected from kindergarten raids, I won't even entertain the thought of an increase.
Enjoy!
Well thanks Keith for offering up excuse number 46 for not supporting an increase in taxes and fees for transportation. Fact is, of course, it matters not one wit; you simply would never support new revenue for transportation under any circumstances. If we did get a new source, and we received more in interstate allocation, you would oppose it because you don't support more revenue. You expect less revenue from the gas tax to buy the same amount of maintenance and construction that it did in 1986, when of course the purchasing power of that dollar has declined by $0.60 in that period of time. And to your credit, you are in the majority on this one, as those with the same attitude elected a new Governor who has essentially said the same thing. So enjoy the result.
Oh please Mike. With the
Oh please Mike. With the exception of 2006 and possibly in 2015, Northern Virginia has always received double, and sometimes triple the interstate funding that Tidewater received yet they pay the same rates in gas taxes and fees just like we do. For the fiscal years 2004-2015 the projection is we will get 17% of interstate funding while NVA will get 58%. Why should anyone think that the funding ratio will change dramatically for us if we pay another 22 1/2 cents more in gas taxes? With that kind of history, only a idiot could assume that Tidewater will receive a bigger share of state interstate funding to pay for anything. Just because some big projects were underway in NVA, doesn't mean that the rest of the state should have to do without. I don't want to pay more gas tax because I don't believe that we will get any benefit from it. I'll have a tall draft Miller please Meathead and dinner on the table.
Archie, have another beer
Again, what a shame you simply can't keep up. NoVa got the allocation because existing projects their are underway, and the funding they just got is simply to finish those projects. Some were multi billion dollar jobs like replacing the Wilson Bridge. Because of anti tax zealots like you who won't pay anymore gas tax, no more new interstate projects will be started anywhere in Virginia, and our federal share of funds will go to other states. Pat yourself on the back and self congratulate yourself; you and others like you are presenting our competitors with a very valuable gift. Not only will they get our share of federal gas tax money, they will use that money to improve their transportation systems and then take our industries, including the Navy and the Port, and jobs. Way to go, Archie Bunker. Have another beer.
Uninformed electorate indeed! Myth No. 1
Our fearless developer writes "So thanks, Virginian-Pilot, for feeding the anti government frenzy; the prize is an uninformed electorate." Uninformed? NVA gets $225MIL or 93.2% and Tidewater gets nothing in 2011. And since we are uninformed, we should roll over and accept a 22 1/2 cents increase in the gas tax and any other fees you can dream up so that NVA will receive $450MIL and Tidewater will still get nothing. Yeah! Sign me up for that coach! Make up your mind Mike. One day it's about economic developement; the next day it's about traffic congestion; then the next day it's about maintenance; then moving container trucks; then cutting grass, then rest stops. It's really about guys in your business and your profit margins. I think the electorate is very well informed. The fact is Mike that you don't like it that way. Your definition of an informed electorate is them being a mushroom covered in dog squeeze.
wrong...
"We, the citizens and the voters, get an "F", for in the end, it is really our problem"
Lobbyists encouraging politicians to send money down sinkhole projects are the problem. Now, we, the taxpayers are sick of it, so we've cut the flow of money off. When special intrests and lobbyist go away, the money may return.
Just my thoughts
Gas tax and tolls. I said it before and will say it again. We who drive should pay for the roads. Noone will notice a few cents more on gas tax. Good heavens, the price changes daily.
I know a lot of people who miss the Jordan bridge badly. They would be glad to pay that toll again. It also hindered other roads when they closed it.
I know most of us are on the gridlocked roads at 5:00 in the evening. There is not one road in HR that is not gridlocked and people squeezing into traffic.
Something has to be done. We cannot afford another bridge closure.
Just take a look at the traffic caused by a terrible accident on 64 last evening. At 5:00 you couldn't see the end on Military Highway or Cedar (some call it Moses Grandy) I still call it Cedar, that was backed up to Dominion.