Virginia's Public-Private Transportation Act is being studied, and process may see changes.

Date published: 10/20/2005

By EDIE GROSS

RICHMOND--Road projects submitted under the state's Public-Private Transportation Act will undergo a slightly different review process in the future, one that may be a tad more open to the public.

The PPTA 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.

Private firms with access to more money than the Virginia Department of Transportation would also put up the initial investment, usually hoping to make back their money by selling bonds or charging tolls.

Projects offered under the act include proposals to build high-occupancy toll lanes, or HOT lanes, on both the Capital Beltway and Interstate 95.

The process is more open today than it was a decade ago, Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer told members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board yesterday.

In the beginning, the advisory panel that reviewed the projects did not include members of the CTB. Its meetings were not open to the public, and sometimes there were no written records of the group's recommendations, Homer said.

Now, CTB members serve on the panel--there are three on the 14-member panel reviewing the HOT-lanes proposals for I-95--and the group's meetings are open to anyone.

"One thing we have worked very hard on is transparency and inviting the public in," he said.

The Virginia General Assembly made some changes to the PPTA during its 2005 session. State officials are reviewing new guidelines for handling projects that come in under the law right now, and the new process is expected to be in place by Oct. 31.

Under the existing law, the panel of statewide transportation experts looks over the projects fairly late in the process. For instance, the panel reviewing the HOT-lanes proposals didn't start meeting until April--19 months after the first project was submitted.

Though the public ultimately had access to both HOT-lanes proposals on VDOT's Web site, there wasn't much dialogue between the public and the state until the panel started meeting.

Under the proposed changes to the process--which the CTB will vote on today--that panel would get the project information within the first six months.

Virginians have complained in the past that the process doesn't allow for a lot of public comment. Though residents can send e-mails and letters throughout the process, they've been allowed to speak during only one HOT-lanes meeting.

The altered law doesn't really change that. But Homer pointed out that citizens have plenty of other opportunities to comment.

For instance, if a project requires state money, there's a public hearing to address that. Most large projects require an environmental review, and there's a separate hearing for that as well, he said.

"There's a world of checks and balances out there that gives not only the CTB, but the affected jurisdictions and general public out there, a chance to weigh in on the decision," Homer said.

For more information on the PPTA process and the suggested changes to the law, visit virginia dot.org/business/ppta-default .asp on the Web.

To reach EDIE GROSS:540/374-5428 egross@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 10/20/2005