When Governor Bobby released his proposed 2013 budget most state wonks likely zeroed in on the massive increase for non-general Transportation funding. The budget shows an $800 million increase in spending out of a budget which is wholly controlled by the revenues taken in by the motor fuel excise tax (as well as some other smaller sources). In order to spend that money, you have to first make that money which frames the picture McDonnell painted earlier this month as he spoke about the need to raise the gas tax.
To raise this $800 million at a time when gas consumption is going down in our state would require the current rate of 17.5cents per gallon to increase to approximately 21 cents. For those of us who have been screaming about the lack of state funding for the obligations towards the construction of infrastructure, the increase in the gas tax is long overdue. We have to be able not only to build new infrastructure but better maintain our current system, a cycle which has recently been dipping into the state General Fund.
Unfortunately, the whole process appears to be leading to one inevitable resultant… another pet project for the GOP and former Petroleum Institute Leader Sean Connaughton (our Transportation Secretary). After three years of pet projects including 460 expansion (55 miles of road, for 10,000 vehicles, at $1.4 billion), Coalfields Expressway (over $2 billion to serve… mostly the coal industry), and the list goes on. Over and over this administration has found money when it involves GOP strongholds and corporate chronies, but when Fairfax [The Socialist Republic of] requests $150 million more to help reduce toll road costs on the Dulles Toll Road, or $200 million in assistance for Route 1 expansion (which carries over 100,000 vehicles) or another 100 projects in Fairfax which are needed but unfunded, we are told the coffers are empty… with a $500 million surplus.
It is disgusting what is occurring with the continued politicization of our Department of Transportation. No one is saying don’t build roads every where in this state, and in economically depressed regions infrastructure could be the element to tie commerce together, but spending BILLIONS, while telling Fairfax that $10 million per year annually to go towards Tysons Corner is not feasible, is no more than gross mis-management. The economy of this state owes much of its standing to the very areas being told to buzz off.
So here we are. The gas tax funding is running too low for Bobby and Sean to build more of their roads to nowhere, so they simply follow the lead of smart growth advocates and say raise the rate. The bait is set and it will catch the fish they want, but we will not get the higher level of control necessary to trust these two with our money. The money will go towards the Outer Beltway, another road which goes to nowhere (Maryland and the EPA will never allow a crossing of the Potomac at this location for a vehicle count of less than 100,000), for another BILLION dollars plus a toll structure which will assure their private partners (Transurban) a tidy profit.
Finally! The traffic of NOVA will be solved by connecting Manassas to the middle of Eastern Loudoun… with a road that runs parallel to Route 28, which already does this. Let’s not let logic get in the way of another ribbon cutting for Bobby though.
We agree about the need to raise additional funds for infrastructure, but in doing so each of the Counties (not State Level VDOT) should attain assurance that the funds made available will be given equal weighting.
Any increase in the gas tax should come with the caveat that each County will attain their percentage share based on the gas consumption revenue attained in that state for the amount that is increased in the gas tax.
Everyone wins. The current funding is still available to be misused by the GOP and the increase in funding will now become a defacto local infrastructure source to make up for the fact that the state leaders have no idea how to run Virginia.
If this caveat for greater local control (something the GOP is supposedly for) isn’t provided within the law to increase the gas tax, I say reject it. Worst case scenario? We continue to get screwed on the amount we get from the state whether we pass it or not.
You still have time (though barely any) to let VDOT and Richmond know how you feel.
Sign the petition by Coalition for Smarter Growth against the Outer Beltway
or
Let them know before the closing of all public comments by January 2nd. Yep 2 weeks from now. Odd… that this project seems to be sneaking through just like I-95 HOT lanes but all the while VDOT’s traffic studies of Tysons have taken the better part of three years. Makes you wonder.