Richmond needs to focus on real transportation solutions

June 8, 2012

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "In what was described as an unprecedented coming-together, local government leaders from across the state's urban crescent agreed to develop a common policy to confront Virginia's looming transportation funding crisis... Meeting at the Henrico County Government Center, the group agreed to draft a resolution supporting General Assembly members who 'take all necessary and immediate action' to provide a comprehensive solution to the need for new money for transportation, even if that means unpopularly raising taxes."

Progressive Point: Virginia needs leaders that understand how to rebuild and improve our infrastructure. Cutting investment in our communities kills jobs for workers who keep our Commonwealth humming. Fewer breadwinners for Virginia families and customers for Virginia businesses means less hiring and fewer jobs everywhere.

Cutting investments in our schools, police, and roads means cutting more jobs. Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly have to stop giving special tax breaks to millionaires and big corporations that aren't hiring, and start putting Americans back to work. Richmond needs to focus on jobs and real transportation solutions and put Virginia back to work.

Get the Facts:

• Virginia has not provided new funding for transportation since 1987. Within five years, "No state funds will be available for new highway construction projects; The state will be unable to provide the required matching funds to bring to Virginia all the federal transportation revenue it is otherwise eligible to receive; and Virginia won't have enough money to keep its existing roads, bridges and tunnels up to proper maintenance standards." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 8, 2012)

• Virginia has the country's third largest highway network at nearly 58,000 miles of roads. The Commonwealth would raise $50 million for transporation for every 1 cent Virginia's gasoline tax is raised. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 8, 2012)
• Out of Virginia's 2012 nearly $4.8 billion transportation budget almost $1.3 billion of it is borrowed money. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 8, 2012)

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