In releasing his plan for Virginia’s roads Monday, Gov. Bob McDonnell boasted that it had bipartisan support. What it doesn’t have is support from Northern Virginia. McDonnell’s proposal relies on using about $3 billion in borrowed money for about 900 projects around the state, including widening part of Interstate 66, building high-occupancy vehicle and toll lanes on I-95 and I-395, and improvements to Route 29 and Gallows Road, projects that fell behind schedule because of dwindling state funding. Of the 17 senators sponsoring McDonnell’s plan, however, only two — Chuck Colgan, D-Prince William, and Ed Houck, D-Spotsylvania — hail from anywhere near Northern Virginia.
McDonnell’s office is still building support on the House side, and Del. Jim LeMunyon, R-Loudoun, expects lawmakers to at least consider the initiative.
