The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A proposal to place tolls on two Hampton Roads tunnels failed to gain traction in a House subcommittee Thursday, but it generated a lively debate about what some lawmakers are calling a transportation crisis in Virginia.
Del. Joe May’s bill, HB1323 , to authorize a $2 toll on the Hampton Roads and Monitor-Merrimac Memorial bridge-tunnels was disapproved 4-0 by the panel.
The vote did not kill the measure outright. May, a Republican from Leesburg , said afterward that he will still bring it before the full Transportation Committee, which he chairs.
But the bill’s chilly reception in the subcommittee signaled that it faces long odds of success.
Del. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News , the only member of the panel from Hampton Roads, put up an impassioned fight against the proposal.
“I cannot begin to tell you the desperate situation this bill will create if it is passed,” he pleaded with his colleagues. “This is so unfair. Please don’t do this to the Hampton Roads region.”
Oder said he is not opposed to tolls as one element of a solution to the state’s transportation problems, but he called for a comprehensive approach that increases the capacity of the region’s overburdened water crossings.
May’s proposal, which Oder characterized as “piecemeal,” would fund operation, maintenance and repairs only to the existing facilities.
May, an engineer, said his bill was prompted by the flooding incident that shut down the Hampton Roads tunnel for eight hours one day last summer, paralyzing traffic. He said an investigation of the incident showed that the tunnel “is not adequately staffed and the staff that are there are not adequately trained.” He estimated that the 52-year-old span has a backlog of more than $50 million in deferred maintenance needs.
Several panel members said May’s proposal was a welcome wake-up call, even though they voted against it.
“We really need to get talking about this,” said Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville . “He’s trying to get something done. He’s stirring the pot, and I think stirring the pot is a pretty good idea.”
Del. Tom Rust, R-Fairfax , the subcommittee chairman, said there are unmet transportation needs throughout the state, and “until there is more money on the table, we will not get any of these problems solved.” He noted pointedly that no Hampton Roads lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors of his bill, HB971 , to enact a package of tax increases for transportation improvements. May said after the vote that he’s not giving up hope for his toll proposal.
“I think as people become aware of how really desperate the situation is, there will be more support for it,” he said.
Bill Sizemore, (804) 697-1560, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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VAB
VAB and their never ending quest for more office, retail, and hotel jobs. Yes indeed, looking out for you, bringing $8 an hour jobs to the masses.
VAB wants all this done so they (all they way down at the pit of VA) can grow, grow, grow. Then tax VAB citizens for the privilege.
Put the tolls back up on the ramps, toll VB Blvd., put a toll at every stop light along Atlantic and Pacific. As a matter of fact put a toll on every city street.
VAB by far has more people, and they are clogging the highways commuting to other cities to work (because all that growth and those $8 an hour jobs don't seem to be keeping them in their own city)so let them pay for what they want. Toll the whole ugly concrete city.
Now This Is An Idea.
Maybe it is time to divide the commonwealth into North and South Virginia. Let Richmond remain the capital of N Virginia and Williamsburg can be the capital of S Virginia. Boundaries can be drawn along current congressional districts. Nothing else seems to be working.
The threat of tolls is just a red herring
to scare us into consenting to an increase in taxes.
Either legalize casino gambling and stop the drain of millions into nearby states or live within the means of the revenue we are providing with our taxes now.
all the delegates from NOVA want to tax HR What's new?
Del Oder, Del Rest and the rest of the HR Delegates should propose tolls on the northern corridors along I85, I95 and I66 in and around these NOVA Delegates districts that have proposed tolls on Hampton Roads area roads. I travel through that area often and see all the new construction that has been ongoing and started over the past ten years. The Pilots past article is correct when it stated that NOVA receives more of the funds from this area than this area receives from the state. I can recall how segregated the cities of this area were when there were tolls in place. If the tolls are put back in place the region will once again become isolated cities. People from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton will find no reason to go to VA Beach or Norfolk. Fortunately for Suffolk, parts of Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News can travel away from this area with out having cross any of the bridges or tunnels that will be tolled. I guess that puts quite a burden on the residents of Norfolk and VA Beach and also will lead to loss of sales and tax revenue from the other cities residents that will refuse to cross the tolls for shopping or business.
Correction!!!!!
My writing, "Del Oder, Del Rest and the rest of the HR Delegates", should have been "Del Oder and the rest of the HR Delegates." Del Rest is from Fairfax. Sorry about that.
what do you expect from our general assembly
How can we make any sense out of our General Assembly? For the last 8 years they have managed to do NOTHING. So far we have wearing a seat bealt a primary offence, text messaging a secondary offense, and not a word about people running their mouth on a cell phone while going 70 miles an hour, and we know they will drive 90 instead. Nothing done for transporation, and nothing but nonsense will contine to come.
Paula Miller, I did not vote for you this last term, and I will not vote for you the next.
I expect some transportation
I expect some transportation bills will pass. I am delighted that the pro gun legislation is moving swiftly through the House this session and will be Kandy Kaine proof.
It's not a revenue problem, It's a spending problem.
We have more than adequate revenue to build and maintain roads but our politicians want to use the funds for all their public/private projects that add to overpopulating the already overpopulated areas. This puts a further burden on the overburdened roads. We cannot afford to let the politicians continue to use our tax dollars to pay for their friends and relatives projects. If the projects are such a great investment, the private investors and developers would use their own money to fund the projects. Notice the only time these people want to build their projects is if they get their profits up front using our tax money. Also notice how none of these projects ever produce the revenue that the politicians and developers claim they will. Also notice that the projects always go well over budget and it's always the government that has to put up more funds to complete the projects. It's time to send these developers packing. If you check, you'll find that none of them live or work in their cluster condos or offices in congested areas. Stop wasting the revenue we have and start spending smartly.
glory days
Yes, indeed let the fun begin. They can start with dollar tolls at all VAB exit and entrance ramps and nice chunky five dollar tolls to cross over into Norfolk or Chesapeake. Yes indeed, feed the growth!!!
just wonder
Just wondering, what kind of kickback May is getting from a certain development company.
Here's an idea, VAB wants all this traffic rushing to oceanfront, they should be willing to pay for all the largess that development brings - they are at the arm pit of VA and every bit of food and material goods has to be trucked in from west of Newtown Road. VAB has the most citizens of any city in the area, let's make sure we tap that market. Sure would hate for them miss out on all the fun.