Legislation designed to get private companies to pay for transportation projects in Virginia isn't working as well as it ought to, the Southern Environmental Law Center reports.
The state's Public-Private Transportation Act hasn't attracted that much private money for massive projects, according to a study by the nonprofit group, which promotes "sensible growth" and protection of natural resources.
Furthermore, the law allows private companies to set transportation priorities instead of allowing elected officials to do that, the report states.
"You're still using a lot of public money on this, and who's setting the priorities?" said Trip Pollard, land and community project director for the SELC.
State officials say they put so-called PPTA proposals through the same paces as other projects to make sure they meet state standards.
Private firms bring the projects forward, hoping to make money, but the state approves them only if they also benefit the public, said Tamara Neale, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
"There's got to be some benefit to the private sector," she said. "There's got to be some benefit to us, too."
The Public-Private Transportation Act was approved in 1995 as a way to move projects along more quickly by allowing the private sector to finance and build roads. Firms could propose projects on their own or offer innovative ways to build those already in the state's six-year plan.
The idea was that projects would get done faster because teams of contractors would work together from the beginning, planning, designing and building the projects--something that doesn't always happen when VDOT oversees the work.
Private firms with access to more money than VDOT would also put up the initial investment, usually hoping to make back their money by selling bonds or charging tolls.
PPTAs have been suggested as ways to add high-occupancy toll lanes to Interstates 495 and 95 and to widen Interstate 81 in western Virginia.
Both Gov. Mark Warner and Republicans in the House of Delegates have touted these partnerships as a way to move transportation projects along during a period when the state budget is tight.
The House last week announced a plan that would put $60 million into a public-private partnership incentive fund during this General Assembly session. Warner's proposal, announced in December, includes $140 million for a revolving loan fund to jump-start public-private road-building partnerships.
But the SELC is urging lawmakers to revise the PPTA legislation to:
Require private firms to invest a certain percentage in projects.
Allow for more public input early in the process.
Give the Commonwealth Transportation Board more authority over PPTA proposals. As it is, the VDOT staff vets proposals before bringing them to the CTB.
"We're increasingly relying on something that we haven't taken a close look at," Pollard said.
To see the Southern Environmental Law Center's full report on PPTAs, visit selcga.org.
To reach EDIE GROSS: 540/374-5428 egross@freelancestar.com