In January, Gov. Tim Kaine hit the ground running with a comprehensive legislative package that included meaningful reforms to resolve the inherent conflict in handling land-use planning for exponential growth at the local level while making transportation decisions in Richmond.
With the legislative session all but complete and attention now focused on resolving the budget impasse, some are asking what progress the administration made on these important reforms during its first legislative session — a fair and appropriate question. And significant progress has been made, in terms of legislation passed, administration action taken, and a shift in the atmosphere in Richmond toward smart-growth initiatives.
Timely and accurate information is essential to wise land-use decisions. The governor’s successful proposal to require uniform traffic impact statements for rezoning requests will provide local planners with real data to understand the traffic impacts of their decisions. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to provide comments on proposed changes to comprehensive plans before they are adopted so that localities understand the effect changes might have on local roads.
A revenue-sharing bill passed granting localities new decision-making authority and responsibility for project construction. This is an important step in helping localities understand the transportation costs associated with their land use decisions.
Legislation regarding the transfer of development rights was approved to help communities guide development toward more efficient land-use patterns while protecting the property rights of localland owners. This program will allow landowners in areas planned for conservation to voluntarily transfer their development rights to parcels in developed areas and be compensated for their loss of property value.
New legislation strengthened the Intermodal Office, charging it to advocate for better links between roads, rail, air and seaports and to develop performance measures for state and local government efforts to connect transportation and land use decisions.
Better connecting land use and transportation is also a key priority in the governor’s transportation funding plan. Kaine’s plan includes record investments in mass transit, new funds for protecting transportation corridors from ever-encroaching development that dramatically reduces the efficiency of our transportation dollars, and resources directed to reducing demand through telecommuting, ridesharing and other innovative initiatives.
There is still more to do when it comes to reforming land use and transportation planning. Kaine and his administration remain committed to enacting reforms, like granting local governments the power to reject a rezoning request if a proposed project would overload the local transportation system, and will continue his work to achieve it over the coming months and years of his term.
It is often difficult to assess progress from the perspective gained in weeks rather than years, but years from now, 2006 will be remembered as the session when the momentum changed, and for the first time real progress was made on transportation and land-use reform. The efforts of Kaine and his administration have changed this dynamic, and under his leadership we look forward to continuing to build on this strong foundation.
Scott Kasprowicz is the deputy secretary of transportation and a former board member of both the Piedmont Environmental Council and the League of Conservation Voters.
