Without a ‘transportation fairy,’ state legislators must don their wings
The infamous “no car tax” eliminated one of the few tax sources allowed to local governments, becoming instead something which has been subsidized by the state. This shell game placed further strains on the state budget. Since then, transportation needs have been gridlocked with construction funds being hijacked to cover maintenance costs.
The very essence of politics is at play here. How can existing tax revenues be generated and at what rates, and then how will these resources be allocated to meet all public needs?
Without an adequate transportation system, economic development stagnates as business shifts to states with better infrastructure and therefore greater productivity. As roads become increasingly stressed and public safety and convenience evaporates, this impacts tourism and further erodes the tax base. These scenarios mean citizens will continue to have a larger portion of the tax pie to consume on their own at a local level, carrying a greater tax burden even if state taxes are not increased.
Transportation literally drives the economic health of our Commonwealth
In a very basic sense, you can think of all state transportation funding as being one pie, cut into eight pieces. Four pieces represent transportation maintenance, including replacing bridges which have an expected lifespan of 50 years – and the average age of a bridge in Virginia is 47 years old. The other four pieces of this pie represent transportation construction, including NRV projects such as the Route 114 bridge damaged by an errant truck several years ago, or improvements to Peppers Ferry Road. In anticipation of this funding, Christiansburg Town Council went ahead and gave the green light to extensive development here, and now must be very judicious in approving any additional projects feeding onto that road.
For too long, maintenance needs have consumed all four pieces of this revenue pie, plus much of that meant for new construction. These new or unmet construction needs don’t go away, instead the list gets longer and longer (and more expensive).
The problem is apparent to most Virginians who rely on public roads, whether they usually only travel in a 50-mile radius of their homes or frequently travel throughout the Commonwealth. It is apparent in congested roadways, the number of traffic accidents on our interstates and primary city roads, bridge closures or weight reduction signs, waiting for a gravel road to be paved, damaged or absent guardrails, soft shoulders without pedestrian or bike lanes, and a bumper crop of potholes and patches.
Transportation funding has not kept up -- much less ahead -- of needs
Governor Kaine has called yet another special session later this month for our General Assembly to meet and begin working to address these needs: taxes and transportation, and therefore indirectly, tourism. This elected body has heatedly bickered over a subject that affects state and local economies. It has, as a body, stalled and failed to effectively address these needs. The governor recently held town hall meetings around the state to communicate these issues and explain his proposal for meeting present and future needs.
Kaine stressed the connections between economic health of Virginia and its citizens. His plan includes incentives for alternative transportation and recognizes the importance of tourism as an industry which helps limit tax burdens on residents. On the day Kaine spoke in the NRV, another errant truck driver took out a bridge in Giles County.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) also met recently and, while not endorsing the governor’s plan, identified numerous projects to be eliminated from its six-year road budget. And, folks, if a project is not included here, it won’t happen. Delays cost money, both in lost productivity and causing budget overruns for scheduled projects.
Intermodal Impacts
Many local needs will become critical if and when the Elliston Intermodal yard receives formal approval — or forfeiting that project to another state instead of to another locality in the NRV or Roanoke Valley. While this project will reportedly pull many trucks off Virginia highways, it will certainly result in even more trucks on an already overburdened I-81 between Staunton and Wytheville.
Because the CTB did not eliminate related projects -- a truck climbing lane on I-81 between Ironto/Elliston and Christiansburg, yet another round of "improvements" to Botetourt County’s Exit 150, and road upgrades in the Glenvar/Salem area -- one can again perceive the Intermodal as being a done deal.
Lowered productivity, lost economic prospects, reduced public safety and increasing transportation costs have created an untenable position for lawmakers loath to directly raise any taxes. But what are they – and Virginia voters – willing to have less of or eliminate? Less safety? Lowered educational opportunities or standards? Reduced employment options or limited economic opportunity?
Transportation can no longer be treated as an optional expense
If you think the Lottery Fairy hasn't done much for improving education, realize there is no Transportation Fairy. Local government -- county, town or city -- cannot address these needs, which are primarily the responsibility of state legislators (with some help from federal tax dollars).
It is time for state lawmakers do their job and address this issue.
(Reported later this day, the CTB did in fact eliminate Montgomery County projects in addressing an overall $1.1 billion transportation funding shortfall, and shifted $2.7 billion from construction to maintenance programs. The General Assembly will convene this coming Monday in Richmond, sans any fairy dust.)