LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES DURING THE 2005 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1. Virginia needs to end deficit spending on transportation projects and stop using transportation funds for general fund purposes.
The state should put the trust back in the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) by balancing our books and building what we can afford. Both the Governor and the Speaker have proposed paying off the debt on completed projects by allocating $256 million in new revenues.

2. Establish incentive grants to do build out analysis of local land use plans and identify transportation and land use alternatives that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)/per capita.
We need to understand the fiscal, transportation and conservation impacts of local land use decisions. A key strategy for cutting long-term transportation costs is to reduce driving demand. Both the Governor and the Speaker have proposed additional revenues for localities: Governor - $80 million in 2006; and Speaker - $75 million annually. Priority use of these funds should be to assess the land use impacts of current plans in order to better understand future needs, study alternatives and assess relative costs.

3. Give priority in public-private partnerships to projects that:
  a) include real private sector equity (15% floor);
  b) are identified as part of a public planning process and the related   environmental reviews; and
  c) will reduce freight and passenger congestion.
For public-private partnerships to help meet growing needs there must be real dollars invested by the private sector. We should use limited state resources only for publicly planned and supported projects. One very good use of private sector partnerships is to jump start long-standing plans to improve passenger and freight transportation between our communities and to reduce intercity demands on the highway system. The private railroads invest hundreds of millions of dollars in their systems every year and can make real capital contributions to these mutually beneficial partnerships.

4. Support proposals for new buses and rail cars on existing transit systems in FY2006 and for increased annual funding for rail and public transit investments.
The Governor and the Speaker have both recommended one-time investments to reduce the backlog of needs in existing transit services. The Governor proposes more funds – $80 million as opposed to $40.4 billion in the Speaker’s proposal. Unfortunately, both of these are one-time only investments. We think the state should invest in a good thing and urge support of the higher number, as well as increased funding annually. Existing transit systems are experiencing significant ridership gains, for example VRE, where ridership has doubled 1998 and 2003 to16,000 riders daily. Transit has reduced congestion in the DC region according to the Texas Transportation Institute.

5. Support dedicated annual funding for passenger and freight rail partnerships that can improve access and reduce congestion.
Both the Speaker and the Governor have proposed to establish annual funding for the neglected rail mode. In this case, the speaker proposes $33.2 million for annually and the Governor $23 million. Existing rail corridors offer the best opportunity for increasing transportation capacity without major community disruption that often comes from road building and widening. These funds can be used to leverage private and federal investments in Virginia’s passenger and freight rail systems.

6. Support a multistate compact to plan and invest in rail passenger and freight improvements.
Legislators are proposing an Interstate Route 81 Corridor Transportation Planning Compact. Investing in key rail choke points in Virginia and adjoining states will enable more freight to be diverted to rail and reduce congestion in key corridors like I-95, I-81 and I-66, as well as improving rail passenger service. This should also increase the value of Virginia’s own rail investments.

7. Support Senator Hawkins' proposal to study administrative reforms in VDOT.
VDOT has improved the efficiency of project management, but transportation planning and prioritization, VDOT’s process for Public-Private Transportation Act projects and other issues merit legislative review.

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM PRIORITIES DURING 2005

1. Adopt an asset management program to determine the true maintenance and preservation needs of the highway system.
The Auditor of Public Accounts says it is not possible to know if the maintenance program is under or over-funded under the current project selection system.

2. Adopt new standards ensuring the quality of construction and for managing access to highways and arterials as part of any program to turn back road responsibility to counties.
Get the most from each dollar we invest. Roads should be built to last both in terms of quality of construction and in terms of preserving the capacity of the road. The state has been considering managing access for almost a decade, but
little has been done. In the meantime, hundreds of millions of dollars in road investment is being wasted by allowing too much development access, turning state highways from through roads into stop and go commercial corridors.

3. Plan and implement transit oriented development (TOD) as part of any transit station investment.
Transit efficiency increases when matched to development. Arlington is enjoying the benefits of TOD, in growing tax base, lower tax rates, less traffic and better quality of life for its citizens. Let’s spread the benefits.

4. Fund bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of road projects in the 6 year plan and as stand alone facilities.
The CTB has adopted this policy, and the draft VTRANS 2025 does also, but fails to identify projects or funding, saying local governments should identify the projects.

5. Promote context sensitive design to ensure that road and transit improvements fit the character of the landscape.
The scenic design of roads adds to the traveler’s experience, supporting increased tourism. Tourism is growing in economic importance to the state, especially in regions such as Southwest Virginia, which are transitioning from textile and other manufacturing jobs.