The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
It's a long shot, but at least one Hampton Roads lawmaker is trying to head off the impending re-tolling of the Downtown and Midtown tunnels.
Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, has submitted legislation that would apply the state's 5 percent general sales tax to motor fuels, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for Virginia's overburdened transportation infrastructure.
If passed, Alexander says, his measure could provide an alternative means of financing the planned expansion of the Midtown Tunnel and rehabilitation of the Downtown Tunnel. That project is now slated to be paid for by the reimposition of tolls on the two Elizabeth River crossings later this year.
Alexander's proposal, HB892 (full text), is unlikely to gain traction. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Republican-led General Assembly have consistently opposed any new taxes for transportation.
If tolls are imposed on the two tunnels, Alexander says he at least wants motorists to have the option of paying them in cash.
To that end, he has introduced another measure, HB889, that would enable drivers to pay the tolls without the use of automated or electronic devices.
Current plans call for collecting the tolls only via the electronic E-ZPass system, eliminating the need for toll booths.
Cash or E-ZPass, the tolls will impose a burden on his constituents, Alexander said.
The tunnel project is being undertaken by a public-private partnership. The toll for cars during peak hours will start at $1.84 and could be increased up to 3.5 percent a year for 58 years.
For many local residents, the tunnels are essential for getting to jobs, medical services and government offices, Alexander said.
"Hampton Roads is one community," he said. "To toll those roads, to me, is problematic because we're so interdependent."
Alexander's funding proposal would generate an estimated $800 million a year by imposing the 5 percent general sales tax on motor fuels. He would partially offset that by reducing the current fuel tax from 17.5 cents to 12.5 cents per gallon, reducing revenue by $250 million a year.
The remaining $550 million in new revenue would be dedicated to highway construction and distributed according to this formula: 38 percent to Northern Virginia, 31 percent to Hampton Roads and 31 percent to the rest of the state.
The bill also authorizes the issuance of $5 billion in bonds to be repaid from the net new revenue.
Another local lawmaker, Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, has introduced a bill, HB393, to raise the existing fuel tax by 10 cents per gallon. An identical bill from Howell last year was killed in committee.
Bill Sizemore, 804-697-1560, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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Tolls
To-Jcurr012 You Educate your own self Mister!!! If you want to SUCK UP to the City of Suffolk then you go for it...
Thank you Delegate Alexander
Thank you Delegate Alexander for trying to do something. This is nothing more than taxation without representation. The commonwealth has abdicated its transportation responsibilities and put the burden on the Hampton Roads region. Please help poor working people, our students, and elderly trying to make ends meet. This is devastating to our region. Citizens unite and speak up and write. Kill the tolls. Raise the gas tax which is more equitable. Republicans are taxing us to death-$1.84 each way. It's a major tax and will kill Governor's chances for national office. He would do better to support a 10 cent revenue enhancer than this killer tax on these tunnels. We plead for mercy.
Del Alexander's bills
Del. Alexander's bills make sense to me.
1. A toll is a tax. Look it up in your dictionary.
2. It is hard on senior citizens, students and the disadvantaged. These people are citizens too.
3. How will EZ-Pay get any money out of those people who live in their cars?
4. How accurate will the records be that EZ-Pay will use to locate its customers?
5. How will the state handle the issues of car theft and stolen transponders?
6. How will the state handle the issue of broken transponders?
7. What will happen to EZ-Pay when electricity goes out, such as after a hurricane?
8. When tolls start, traffic will cut down. A third crossing won't be needed as people find other ways. But then the toll would be immoral.
Roads Ala Carte LOL Some of the comments are CRAZY
We all hate taxes, but with that said for the better good of our communities city's states and America we pay for the benefit of all.
When my children were in school many senior citizens paid taxes to build schools assist paying for school lunches etc. They did this for the common good. They once had someone pay for their children's education etc.
We cannot pick and choose what interstate we will travel what pot holes to fix. They all need repairs and may be potentially traveled by any of us Tax payers. The Gas tax would equal out the burden and make it more manageable as we would not need to build another bureaucracy to manage these tolls. We have to all share in this burden even the folks in Northern VA. Increase tax on gas 5 cents.
seriously?
"We cannot pick and choose what interstate we will travel"
In America? I am personally appalled that someone is forcing you to drive on a certain interstate highway. This is an outrage.
So you can can me all the roads you will ever travel?
Why don't you make a short list. While your at it since you can see into the future how bout some winning lottery numbers.
Tolls
I think these two-bit crooked politicians have stuck their heads in the dirt too damn long and have no COMMON SENSE about themselves at all. This State cannot FIX the Roads already. All they want to do is put a TOLL here put a TOLL there everywhere a TOLL. Route 58 is so full of POTHOLES it isn't FUNNY. The City of Suffolk is TOO LAZY and TOO DAMN SORRY to fix the roads it has. And it gets MILLIONS and MILLIONS from the State. And then the State wants to raise the gas tax. I think the Virginia General Assembly should be FIRED for doing a SORRY job for Virginians.
Educate yourself
I believe your comments to be a bit harsh, as I am sure the City of Suffolk would love to fix every pothole imaginable on Route 58. Unfortunately the money to fix these potholes come from the State funds. If the tax is not raised there is less and less money each year with inflation to allocate money to different municipalities across the Commonwealth. If they do not have the funds they cannot fix the roads. The gas tax has not been raised in Virginia since 1986. I would much rather pay a small percentage on every gallon to pay for my roads then burden a certain percentage of the population with paying for the fixes, ie tolls on tunnels, or even on 58. That only divides the region, it does not promote harmoney among the cities.
Put the tolls
on the tunnels....let the people who use them pay for them....
We all benefit from tunnels.
I completely understand your logic,'Let those that use them pay for them.' However you are neglecting to remember that regardless of where you live in Hampton Roads you benefit from the tunnel at some point. For example, if you live in Virginia Beach and shop at Harris Teeter, the food comes in through the tunnel, therefore you are benefiting. These examples can go on and on. I am a Republican, and by all means am for lower taxes, but the fact that the tax hasn't been raised in twenty six years due to the politicians fearing a loss of power seems a bit twisted. If we all paid just a penny more per gallon the amount of money guarenteed to fix our roads would be phenomenal. Just food for thought.