Would a regional transportation authority help the Fredericksburg area?
Date published: 7/7/2008
WITH TALK of the traffic congestion in Northern Vir- ginia and Hampton Roads taking center stage in Richmond, folks in the Fredericksburg region may be saying, "What about us?"
Local roads have failed to keep up with the phenomenal growth in our area, to the detriment of commerce and community. That's why Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, is proposing a regional transportation authority for this area similar to what may be constructed for Nova and Tidewater.
Mr. Houck suggests that any metropolitan area in Virginia that has an aggregate of at least 8.5 million daily vehicle miles traveled be allowed to assess an additional 1 percent sales tax (not applicable to food) to be used for local transportation needs. This would include Fredericksburg and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
The General Assembly is struggling in special session to replace last year's transportation agreement, which ran afoul of the Virginia Supreme Court and the public. And, frankly, there are no easy solutions. While some legislators are all too quick to pick citizens' pockets, "'no-new-tax'-ers" scream like stuck pigs when any revenue-enhancing suggestions are made. The reality is, we need roads, and they're neither free nor cheap.
Mr. Houck's proposal could generate as much as $42 million a year for local roads; according to Senate finance committee staff research, this would cost a family with an income of $60,ooo about $133 per year.
How much are we willing to pay to get moving again? Matt Kelly, Fredericksburg City Councilman and a member of the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, says it's time we face the reality that "under the current funding formulas, we will never receive the funding necessary to get ahead of our transportation situation." Something has to be done.
Furthermore, he points out that while it's true that more VDOT projects are finished on time and on budget, we're not focusing on this question: How effective is a given project in moving traffic or easing congestion? That's where a regional group that has power to do more than just talk would help.
It's the commonwealth's job to serve the people. That includes building and maintaining roads. Ideology is a luxury we can no longer afford; it's time to shove dead shibboleths off to the shoulder--and get Virginia moving again.
I am sorry...(posted by
gramps
, July 8, 2008 7:57 pm)
but I do not believe that it is possible to PAVE our way out of the "congestion" that we continually find ourselves in this area. These "multiple" PO's, with basically the same politically appointed members, will not solve our problems. I do not see how giving these pols additional money can solve anything.
WE NEED modern day RAPID mass transit connecting Massaponax with the METRO in the north. That would take tons of pressure off the I-95 commute north.
Additionally, HOT lanes will not work.
re: "we're not focusing on this question: How effective is a given project in moving traffic or easi(posted by
larryg
, July 7, 2008 8:39 am)
Correct.
Now, if you want the citizens in Fredericksburg to support that concept - you need to make the case to them in terms of what projects and how well those projects relieve congestion.
I would support the 1% if it require a transparent accountability of how it will be spent - specifically - to reduce congestion using performance metrics to show which projects offer the most bang for the buck on congestion reduction.
Let's tie the money to it's use.
why is an authority needed to get the 1%?(posted by
larryg
, July 7, 2008 7:40 am)
Washington, Hampton Roads and Fredericksburg all have MPOs.
The reason why NoVa has an authority is to coordinate their portion of the multi-state MPO.
Hampton Roads and Fredericksburg do not have multi-state MPOS but rather stand-alone MPOs.
Hampton Roads wants their Transportation Authority disbanded becasue it is redundant - will have the same group of people governing it as who govern the MPO.
We already have too many different entities involved in transportation. Isn't a TA redundant?
