Summary
of Recommendation:
In VTRANS 2025, the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) estimated $203 billion in needs and a $108
billion shortfall – $5.4 billion per year
on top of the $4 billion we are spending at this time. To
raise this kind of money would require a $1.06 per gallon
increase in the state gas tax, or more than doubling our
state sales tax to 10.8 percent, or a $900 vehicle registration
fee.
This
unsupportable level of expenditure calls for new approaches
to reduce the demand for transportation infrastructure.
We recommend reevaluation of the VTRANS estimates and the
adoption of a more comprehensive vision for Virginia that
links transportation, especially freight rail, transit and
interconnected local streets, with development patterns
that reduce vehicular demand and overall infrastructure.
This alternative approach should be tested and considered
for adoption.
Background:
The VTRANS 2025 policy chapters recommend a number of wise
reforms to link land use and transportation. Public focus
groups and telephone surveys showed strong support for this
and for greater investment in transit, pedestrian, and bicycle
needs. Yet, while the public placed a greater combined priority
on these needs and on freight rail, the VTRANS project list
dedicates 70% of revenues to highways.
The
Coalition for Smarter Growth’s September
20, 2005 letter provided to Senate Finance and to START
provides a more detailed review of VTRANS 2025 and recommends
how state needs estimates and alternatives can be better
evaluated.
