When a group of 11 General Assembly members discusses a possible compromise on transportation funding, only one Northern Virginia legislator will be among them, which concerns some officials in the region.
“Like Northern Virginia is not that interested in transportation,” said Arlington County Supervisor Chris Zimmerman, with more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Martin Williams, D-Newport News, selected the 11 conferees. Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, is the group’s lone lawmaker from this area.
The negotiators have until the session’s scheduled Feb. 24 conclusion to compromise. Lawmakers agree there needs to be more money for transportation and that failing to reach a deal imperils incumbents in the fall elections, especially in traffic-inundated Northern Virginia.
The disagreement is about how to generate the revenue. A plan passed by the House comes up with some of the funds by using $250 million a year from the commonwealth’s general operating fund, which traditionally pays for education, health care and public safety. On the other side of the debate, the Senate approved a bill that would raise money by imposing a $150 fee for first-time vehicle registrations.
Both plans include money earmarked specifically for the Dulles Metrorail extension, $50 million a year to match federal funds for Metro capital projects and $400 million a year for Northern Virginia projects if local governments approve a series of tax and fee increases. The plans also raise money by issuing $2 billion in bonds and imposing stiff financial penalties on Virginians with bad driving records.
If the negotiators cannot agree, the Metro money and the funds for local projects, both very important to area lawmakers, would have to wait for at least another year.
“Our region already pays a greater share in state taxes, yet again Republican leaders shortchanged us in decision-making,” said Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria. “The Northern Virginia region deserves more than 1 out of 11 members of a final panel to negotiate a solution to our transportation crisis.”
