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Area transportation district eyed
Localities may band together to better meet area's transportation needsDate published: 12/18/2003 By EDIE GROSS Funds could be generated for road, transit projects Stafford County and Fredericksburg may become the founding members of a local transportation district designed to generate more money for regional road and transit projects. Right now, both communities are members of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, a group largely dominated by Northern Virginia localities. As members of that group, both Fredericksburg and Stafford have the authority to levy a 2 percent gas tax. They use some of that money to support Virginia Railway Express, and most of the rest pays for local transportation projects. Elected officials from both localities have discussed creating a local board. It would give Fredericksburg-area communities more control over how regional transportation dollars are spent, and it could allow other localities--like King George, Caroline and Spotsylvania counties--to levy their own gas taxes, supporters say. "If we don't [organize locally], between Richmond and Washington, someone's going to eat us up," said Stafford Supervisor Bob Gibbons, a supporter of what is being called the Rappahannock Regional Transportation District. Localities here could form the district without permission from the General Assembly. But they need to have lawmakers sponsor legislation giving members of the district the authority to levy the gas tax. Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, said he'd be willing to sponsor a bill like that if district members agreed to share the money for regional projects. "I tried to make it extremely clear that if you're going for a de facto 'every local government gets to [tax] for its own local interests,' it's not happening," Orrock said. State Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, said he would support legislation only if he could be sure that "all of this is going toward some regional effort, some regional project, not just divvying up amongst themselves. Transportation needs do not know specific geographic boundaries." If the legislation passes, communities that don't currently levy a gas tax could join the local transportation district and then decide for themselves if they want to have the tax. They would not need to return to the legislature for permission. Local officials brought this idea up last year, but some communities were concerned they might have to give up too much money for regional projects without getting to address any local concerns. Estimates then indicated that if all five communities levied the 2 percent gas tax they could raise about $4.2 million. Steve Manster, executive director of the Rappahannock Area Development Commission, said members could support regional efforts, like the popular FREDericksburg Regional Transit bus system, and still have money left over for local projects. Manster said yesterday he would begin drafting a plan for how the district would work. Fredericksburg and Stafford officials are expected to discuss the proposal over the next few months. To reach EDIE GROSS: 540/374-5428 egross@freelancestar.com
Date published: 12/18/2003
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