Spotsy will help only 'fat cats' with VRE

February 5, 2009 12:35 am

The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors is about to vote once again on whether the county should join the Virginia Railway Express.

Lost in the emotion and flag-waving is a question that must be answered: How many people from Spotsylvania ride VRE each day, and what would it cost county taxpayers to join?

We do not have current figures, but a recent survey showed that approximately 800 daily commuters take the train.

If we join VRE, the county would be required to pay at least $1.5 million per year, an initial capital charge to join, and a minimum of $12 million to build a station.

Looking at just five years, this means the county budget would be hit for $20 million, or some $25,000 per rider.

To accomplish this, motorists would have to pay 2 percent more for gasoline forever. We would be paying 2 percent more on 750 gallons a year, or $30 a year (at $2 per gallon) to subsidize high-income Washington commuters.

So teachers and deputies who have trouble affording to live in Spotsylvania will be asked to pay to help Washington fat cats travel in style.

To sum up, over five years each driver would pay $150 in additional gas taxes; in turn, the county would pay VRE $7.5 million over that time frame. Plus, all taxpayers will have to pay for the bonds that build the station.

It would be cheaper to give every one of the commuters a bus ticket and forget VRE.

Alfred M. King

Spotsylvania