The transportation funding package that aims to raise at least $325 million for Northern Virginia is geared to satisfy the region’s complaints that tax dollars from its hot economy go elsewhere and are not used to fix some of the worst traffic problems in the country.
“No one gets to touch our money this time,” said Del. David Albo, R-Springfield. “That was non-negotiable.”
Recommended Stories
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority met Thursday night to vote on whether to implement the taxes and fees on the region’s residents.
Lengthy public comments and discussions about legal issues and economic policy prevented the authority from voting by press time, but members were expected to approve the seven revenue sources.
“Fixing roads is not free,” Albo said.
If the authority had decided against raising the money for transportation projects, Northern Virginia likely would have gone a long time without another chance to generate its own money.
The fall elections spurred the General Assembly to end two years of inertia and approve a package that increases money for projects statewide and contains additional revenue for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Legislators and Gov. Tim Kaine are eager to move on to other issues when the next legislative session begins in January.
The governor, for example, has already resumed publicly pushing a plan for universal pre-kindergarten programs.
The authority was also scheduled to vote on the first set of projects that will be funded with the new money.
The $102 million list includes projects, such as a $14 million widening of the Prince William County Parkway, that have been waiting years for scarce state funding.
“We could have done this a long time ago but the money has never been available,” Prince William County Supervisor Martin Nohe said.
The breakdown
The taxes and fees the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority may impose to raise more than $300 million a year for regional projects:
» 5 percent tax on vehicle repairs
» 2 percent tax on rental cars
» 2 percent tax on hotel and motel rooms
» 1 percent tax on first-time vehicle registrations
» A tax of 40 cents per $100 of assessed value on property sales
» $10 added to the cost of vehicle safety inspections and registrations
