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STATE LEADERS CALL FOR A LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOLUTION |
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Richmond, Va.-Virginians for Better Transportation (VBT) this week kicked off a statewide public awareness campaign, It's Time, calling for a long-term funding solution to the Commonwealth's transportation crisis - a solution that relies on predictable, sustainable, non-general fund revenue.
VBT represents hundreds of members statewide--individuals, companies and organizations. Business and community leader Mike Anzilotti of Northern Virginia, home builder Jeff Ainslie of Hampton Roads and economic development and elected leader Bev Fitzpatrick of Roanoke, are the co-chairmen of VBT's executive council. This week in Richmond, VBT announced its plans to, in this campaign year, ensure that voters know how serious the transportation situation is in Virginia.
"We believe the voters expect solutions from those who seek to lead Virginia in the upcoming years," Fitzpatrick said. "It would be shocking for candidates at all levels to proceed to Election Day without seriously addressing the critical transportation needs that affect every voter every day."
"Residents of Virginia may realize that our transportation system is inadequate to meet their needs," Fitzpatrick said. "However, they may not realize that we are in the midst of a transportation funding crisis and there are no long-term solutions in place to improve the situation. That is why Virginians for Better Transportation was formed; we are working to ensure the members of the public understand what's at stake."
Fitzpatrick explained that the 2005 General Assembly approved an $848 million transportation budget to be allocated over the next two years; however the bulk of that money was either earmarked for transportation all along or represents one-time payments. Only approximately $131 million may be an ongoing, annual investment in transportation for the Commonwealth.
"That is just a drop in the bucket when you look at the fact that Virginia's current transportation budget is $4 billion annually. The state's VTRANS 2025 report on future needs concludes that an additional $1 billion per year is absolutely necessary in resolving the long-term funding problem," Fitzpatrick said.
"Virginians need to realize the situation we are in," he added. "If residents are discouraged with our transportation system now, imagine that same transportation system in five years without substantial improvements."
According to Anzilotti, transportation maintenance costs are rising far faster than revenues. As a result, there are fewer and fewer dollars every year for key multimodal transportation projects such as road construction, transit and improved passenger and freight rail. State law requires maintenance costs take priority. By 2018 it is estimated that without additional funding, all transportation dollars will be used for maintenance. Anzilotti said Virginians deserve to know that the resources are simply not available to meet the needs.
Anzilotti cited a recent study by The Road Information Project, which estimated that transportation problems cost Virginians $4 billion a year in wasted time due to congestion and the auto repairs and accidents caused by outdated roads or inadequate maintenance. The heaviest congestion costs are in the urban areas and on the interstates, but the problems caused by older roads and poor maintenance are statewide.
"Transportation is an issue affecting every Virginian's quality of life," Fitzpatrick said. "Whether or not we have reliable transportation, whatever the mode, affects the time we get to spend with our families and friends, the time it takes to do our jobs, even our safety and health. It truly is time for a funding solution. We are asking Virginia residents to support our efforts and to contact their elected officials and candidates for elected office to demand a long-term transportation funding solution."
VBT is a coalition of more than 500 Virginia citizens, businesses and organizations across the state whose primary objectives are to educate Virginians about the seriousness of the transportation funding situation, to link transportation and the role it plays in our individual lives, and promote a sense of urgency in implementing a reliable, long-term funding solution. For more information on VBT or to support the coalition, go to www.itstimevirgina.org. Co-chairmen Bev Fitzpatrick (540.344.0991 ext-128) and Mike Anzilotti (703.534.0700) can be reached for additional discussion of the issue.
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