By Pat McGlone
Gov. Tim Kaine’s $850-million transportation legislative proposal is getting a second chance in the General Assembly after more than a year of bitter stalemate.
Two weeks ago, at the opening of the new legislative session, Kaine again stressed the need for major improvements in roads and rails, especially the suburbs of Washington D.C. and the Hampton Roads area.
The biggest political snag last year was the cost of the governor’s proposal, and where the money would come from.
Republicans, who remain in control of the House and Senate, say they have fresh ideas that move beyond last year’s standoff. But these ideas are creating new battles.
The Republicans’ new proposal calls for the state to raise $2 billion in bonds for long-term road, rail and transit upgrades. Additionally, they would take $250 million out of the general fund. In addition, the plan would require that the most congested areas of the state raise some money locally.
Siphoning from the general fund does not sit well with many legislators, in both parties.
Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, a Democrat based in Charlottesville who also represents parts of Rockbridge County, said that general fund dollars have historically been reserved for functions of government other than transportation, such as education and public safety. “There is not justification for breaking that precedent,” he said. “You’ll never have enough money to fix the roads and pay all the other general fund responsibilities.”
The transportation proposals also seek to make highways such as Interstate-81 safer.
According to Kevin Hall, Kaine’s press secretary, Virginia has not seriously addressed transportation issues since 1986, when it last amended the gasoline tax. “That tax has not moved an inch since then,” Hall said. “In fact, it has become a declining revenue source because cars have become more efficient.”
Hall believes that in last year’s marathon legislative session, the Governor, the state Senate and the Democrats in the House of Delegates all understood the need for improvements, but were blocked by Republican leadership in the House. He said those opponents never provided serious alternatives of their own.
Del. Ben Cline, a Republican who represents Rockbridge County and surrounding areas, said it isn’t fair to compare last year’s proposal with what is being discussed now. “We’ll take a look at this one and all of its aspects on its own.”
Jim White, the retired resident engineer for the Rockbridge area for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said that as funding for transportation has decreased in past years, almost all of has gone to major highways and urban centers. That means almost no transportation money makes it to rural areas like Rockbridge.
That could change under the current proposals. “More money coming into transportation allows more money for local governments like Lexington and Rockbridge County to use on their primary and secondary highways,” White said.
Sen. Deeds wondered how that would actually play out. He said it’s “anybody’s guess at this point in time.”
In the current session, most senators and delegates have yielded to the need for changes in transportation. “It appears that even those who said no the loudest last year have come around to the realization that their constituents are frustrated with traffic,” said Hall, interviewed by phone in the governor’s office.
Nathan Vassar, legislative aide Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), said he is encouraged by the progress being made, especially this early in the session. However, he is worried about the way in which that progress is being made.
“Are the appropriations from the general fund, quite frankly, appropriate?” he said. “Who knows if this will even go through?”
“The devil is in the details of any plan,” Deeds said. “And there is a lot of devil in these plans.”
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd