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Debate over Spotsylvania County joining VRE heats up Date published: 3/8/2009
BY DAN TELVOCK As the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors gets closer to a vote on Virginia Railway Express, some members are doing their own research to determine whether now is the time to join. The seven-member county board is divided on whether to join the commuter rail service, but Supervisor Gary Skinner has been pushing the issue this year. County supervisors have debated the merits of VRE since the 1980s. Fredericksburg and Stafford County support the system, and about 1,000 Spotsylvania riders board D.C.-bound trains on weekdays in those localities. Skinner released a study paid for by the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors showing that motorists won't see gas prices rise if the county votes to join VRE. One chief reason Spotsylvania supervisors have resisted supporting commuter rail is that the local government must enact a 2 percent gas tax to help pay for VRE. FAAR analyzed two months of gas-price data from local stations collected by GasBuddy.com. The 47-page report shows that Spotsylvania residents do not pay less for gas than in neighboring counties that are members of VRE. In fact, the information shows that Spotsylvania gas stations already are charging the equivalent of the 2 percent gasoline tax. "We are still paying the same gas prices, if not more, and we get nothing for it," Skinner said. The study also shows that Fredericksburg and Stafford have accumulated about $25 million in excess funds from the gas tax over an eight-year period beginning in 2001. For example, after paying its share of the VRE subsidy, Stafford spent millions in excess gas-tax revenue for the county's share of the construction of Centreport Parkway, an Interstate 95 interchange that serves Stafford Regional Airport.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 3/8/2009
that the tax associated with the VRE is the only reason why gas prices might differ from one county to the next? Might there also be differences in the overhead of the stations? The supporters claim that Spotsy is already paying the tax, but that assumes that all other costs are exactly the same when that might not be true. You could ask if things aren't less in Stafford then they are already paying BPOL, just the businesses are pocketing the difference.
why is there not a response to my post on what is in it for Spotsy to join the V RE???? A lot of money that the county could put to better use. Spotsy riders can use the F'burg station since it ix PUBLIC transportation and that implies there is no limitation to who can use what. What about the Lousia county residents, is there a push for them to join as well? All I keep reading about if the station. Don't have to spend that money if Spotsy does not join! Right?
Actually there was a site offered that is on the current line so it would not need a lot of extras. Prior to the current meltdown the station was to be proffered. Contrary to prior posts Spotsy would not be footing the bill. Your solution, actually lack thereof, is to do nothing but watch congestion grow and your quality of life degrade. I guess the bright side is you guys will continue to have something to complain about.
Funny when Matt doesn't like the response he runs away. Face it Matt you twisted the facts and were called on it. By the way you like to say that Fred and Stafford taxpayers will also pay for a Spotsy station, didn't Fred just get Federal money for the train station? You should thank Spotsy for that contribution.
A station without all the improvements is useless. Its a building in the middle of nowhere doing nothing. So your claim that the station only costs $4M is nonsensical. Noone would build just a building in the middle of nowhere. So the station does cost a lot more than $4M. Your point that money is coming from different sources - that a Spotsy taxpayer should not be concerned is ludicrous. You say Fredericksburg will share the tab. Please share that huge amount. Go ahead Matt Keeper of the facts.
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