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Kaine wants $500M for transportation Proposal calls for public-private partnerships, rail cars

Gov. Kaine previews transportation budget amendments; includes money for VRE

By KELLY HANNON

Date published: 12/15/2006

RICHMOND--Gov. Tim Kaine wants to spend $500 million of Virginia's general fund on transportation projects over the next two years.

The money would fund several public-private partnerships, as well as new railcars for the Virginia Railway Express and Metro.

Kaine said the one-time use of general fund money will let Virginia start road construction projects before material costs go up.

Repeatedly dipping into the general fund, which pays for many of the state's social services, is not a sound way to fund road construction, Kaine said. He will work in the upcoming legislative session to find a dedicated, permanent revenue source for transportation, he added.

"We're going to solve this issue on the long-term funding. The only question is timing. Are we going to solve it now, or are we going to wait for our purchasing power to get chewed up another $10 or $20 million?" Kaine said.

The pool of money for road construction has shrunk as the Virginia Department of Transportation devotes more funding to taking care of roads that already exist. Maintenance must be VDOT's top priority, according to state law. "We are robbing our highway construction program to pay for highway maintenance," Kaine said.

The governor floated his transportation proposal yesterday to members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, who were meeting in Richmond. Kaine will reveal his full budget today.

The bulk of Kaine's transportation budget items would fund large-scale projects.

$305 million would support public-private construction projects to build High Occupancy Toll lanes on the Capital Beltway, a new interchange at Interstate 64 and Interstate 264 in Hampton Roads, and improve U.S. 50 in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

$125 million for public transit, including money to buy VRE and Metro railcars.

$50 million to complete a rail relocation and prepare for the Craney Island port expansion in Hampton Roads.

$20 million for technology innovation grants--$10 million for Northern Virginia and $10 million for Hampton Roads. Grant proposals must reduce congestion or increase transportation options in these regions.

Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, was traveling yesterday, but his office released a statement in response to Kaine's proposal. It criticized Kaine for spending too little.

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Date published: 12/15/2006