Bob McDonnell won election as governor on the promise of digging Virginia out of its transportation mess, without raising a cent of new taxes. But the Republican governor-elect’s plan to fund a languishing road and rail network has done little to spark optimism that his administration will succeed where others have failed.
McDonnell will take office in January amid broad consensus that the state’s transportation revenues are approaching a cliff. He faces a divided General Assembly still smarting from the last bipartisan transportation compromise in 2007, which cobbled together a set of fees and regional tax increases — including the unpopular “abuser fees” on bad drivers — that were either quickly scrapped by legislators or thrown out in court.
McDonnell wants to sell off the state’s liquor stores, set aside money from off-shore drilling and other revenue growth, place tolls on major highways at the North Carolina border, speed up bonds, and modernize Virginia Department of Transportation. He estimated that these and other proposals would bring in $17.5 billion over the next 10 years.
Many of those proposals, however, “have been tried one way or another” in the legislature and failed to find favor in both chambers, said Del. Tom Rust, R-Herndon. When McDonnell looks to find traction with them next session, Rust said, “it’s going to be tough.”
Polls during the governor’s race showed that McDonnell was more trusted to handle transportation than his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Creigh Deeds, who was open to raising taxes. The GOP candidate also won support from business groups — including the Greater Washington Board of Trade — partly on his transportation package.
The Board of Trade, however, has been critical of “no tax” pledges taken by conservative legislators, and has refused for more than a year to donate to any legislative campaigns until the General Assembly passes significant new transportation funding.
“The gridlock is legendary,” said Board of Trade President and Chief Executive Officer James Dinegar, “And while there may be a bump having a Republican governor with the Republican [House], we’ll see. There’s nothing that’s going to grease along in the legislature. We are hopeful that there is progress, but doubtful.”
The business group, a day after McDonnell’s victory, sent a letter to the governor-elect asking for a special commission “tasked with examining the overall fiscal situation in the Commonwealth,” including road funding.
