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Some Spotsylvania supervisors plan to bring VRE to a vote after summer. Right now, they are devising a plan Date published: 6/16/2008
By DAN TELVOCK Spotsylvania County supervisors may vote on joining Virginia Railway Express by the end of the summer. Supervisors Benjamin Pitts and Gary Skinner, who made joining the rail service a centerpiece of their campaigns last year, said this week that they are laying the groundwork for a VRE vote. Supervisor Hap Connors also supports VRE. They need one more vote. Even though voters approved a $144 million 2005 bond referendum that included $12 million for a VRE station, a majority of supervisors have so far been unwilling to join. In 2007, a VRE survey showed 874 riders were from Spotsylvania. To join VRE, a locality must enact a 2 percent gasoline tax. After the locality pays its share of VRE operations, the leftover funds can be used on local transportation projects. Another problem for some supervisors is the lifetime contract with VRE. Now that gasoline has hit $4 a gallon, the sales pitch won't be any easier. "What we are really trying to come up with is a plan of attack of how we want to approach VRE," Skinner said. The strategy is trying to figure out who would be the most likely swing vote. "I think those that are involved are trying to figure out who is the best person to talk to about getting the swing vote. It is going to be either Jerry Logan or Gary Jackson," Pitts said. Logan and Jackson said no one has approached them about VRE. "It is not very high on their agendas apparently because, if they are working toward bringing the board back to that issue, I am not aware of it at all," Logan said. "I have sort of been waiting for someone to raise their hand and make some noise," Jackson said. The two rural supervisors, Emmitt Marshall and T.C. Waddy, say there is nothing that will convince them that joining VRE is a good idea. "The people that I represent, not everyone, but a majority, is against joining VRE," Marshall said. Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
1) The ridership will increase if a station is opened. 800 people driving anywhere from 5 miles or more is a pretty good amount.
2) Look at the big picture: 20000 riders right now, how many cars are off then rode. With the price of gas, the ridership is increasing.
When I started riding, at my stop there were anywhere from 10-40 people waiting Now its 200-300. And it is harder to find a seat.
2% is only $.02 cents per dollar wholesale cost. The extra money will improve back roads.
I stand corrected. My error in using the proper form of the word "do". Good catch. Sometimes, a person gets caught up in the message and not the delivery.
There are over 7.5 milion people within Virginia, most of whom use Virginia roadways on a daily basis, the EMS at some point in thier life, benifit from public schools! less than 20,000 people currently use VRE and it has been around for quit a long time and ridership is actually declining. Virginia along with it cities and counties have dumped hundreds of millions for 20,000 people this is what you call fiscally irresponsible and must stop! the voters approved the other 132 million for roads not VRE!
Cncrnd says "If you want businesses to come to your county, you will have to support the infrastructure to get them here." VRE carries a small number of people to DC to work. The trains come back empty. Noone comes from DC to Spotsylvania to work. We would be better off investing this money in making jobs in Spotsylvania for people who live here. Does anyone else get tired of the handful of people who live in Spotsy and work in DC who constantly carp about needing help to get to their six figure jobs?
...from backwoods people. Folks, this is the 21st century. It's time to stop thinking about yourselves and start thinking about the community as a whole. There may be approximately 874 riders today. But what about next year and the year after that? Don't support the VRE and your county will be looked upon as one that is afraid of progress. If you want businesses to come to your county, you will have to support the infrastructure to get them here. That includes VRE and the revenue raised for the local roads.
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