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Toll road authority bill advances. Date published: 2/20/2009
By Chelyen Davis
RICHMOND-- Legislation to create a transportation authority for a bypass to congested State Route 3 survived a critical hurdle yesterday, passing two Senate committees and the reservations of a local senator.The bill, from Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, creates a transportation authority in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. The authority is the first step in developing a proposed toll road off a yet-to-be-built exit on Interstate 95 south near Central Park, and cross through that area to Gordon Road, bypassing Route 3 congestion. The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is conducting a study of the feasibility of building such a toll road. That study will still need to get data on final cost estimates and toll feasibility, as well as locations for the potential exit and road. Also, the Federal Highway Administration must approve all changes to the interstate. But Orrock's bill is However, Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, had doubts about it. He worried that the authority was too broad, and wanted it restricted to the Route 3 corridor, an amendment Orrock agreed to. Houck also pushed for new wording that clarifies that any bonds issued by the authority are not the state's responsibility. "Don't come back to the commonwealth and ask us to have any responsibility on those bonds," Houck told Orrock. "Just don't put the commonwealth in the mix at all. That's what I'm trying to accomplish." Orrock agreed to that amendment and others. The bill now says that any move to raise the toll on the road above $1 will have to be approved by both Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania's local governments. Houck suggested that because he has heard stories of other toll roads in the state winding up with higher tolls than expected, just to pay the costs of building and maintaining the roads. The bill was also amended to require the localities to hold public hearings on the road proposal.
represents the 54th district in the GA and part of that district lies in Spotsylvania. Does that answer your question?
What standing does Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline have in introducing a bill for Fredericksburg and Spotsy? What is in it for him?
There is none. You guys have screwed it up so bad that it can't be fixed.
MrWonderful--Are your transportation solution is?
Thank you for not giving a rubber stamp to this crazy idea. Hopefully, you will be able to make Mr. Silver pay his fair share.
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