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That
Jerry Baliles, Virginia’s last “Transportation
Governor” would have a thing or two to say on
Virginia’s transportation crisis should surprise
no one. He still whispers in a lot of ears
across Virginia—on lots of different topics. But
this is different. On this issue he is front
and center, and very public, with a proposal that is
sure to become the centerpiece in the continuing,
still coming, still intensifying debate on
transportation funding.
In
a 12-page letter dated August 23 to Senator John
Chichester, chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee, and creator of the new Statewide
Transportation Analysis and Recommendation Task
Force (START), Baliles has proposed a series of 38
tolls on Virginia’s interstate highways.
At
an average of 85 cents per vehicle, they would
generate more than $1 billion in additional revenue
for the Commonwealth’s transportation program.
Leveraged in the form of debt service on bonds, they
could have an immediate—and massive—impact on
specific construction projects that now seem out of
reach of more plebian thinking.
The
proposal is sure to focus the transportation debate.
It may provide an off-ramp to the gubernatorial
candidates looking for new ideas with traction in
the run-up to November.
In
his letter Baliles waves a stop sign at some of the
current thinking—particularly that of Republican
governor wannabe Jerry Kilgore.
Says
he: "The
temptation to use General Funds is powerful, but
transportation projects should be capital budget
items because of the years required to design and
build most major roads and bridges, and the
necessity for sustained sources of revenues."
"Furthermore,”
Baliles says, “the General Fund is required for
the general operational costs of government, such as
K-12 education, higher education, health care costs
and mental health needs, public safety,
environmental protection, the arts and culture. Then
there are local government needs, as well as the
state funds required to address the car tax cut, the
food tax cut, not to mention the many other current
political promises, apparently all to be redeemed
out of the General Fund.”
Why
Interstates? Baliles makes a compelling case: The
vast majority of traffic growth in Virginia is on
the interstate system. Interstate highways carry the
highest proportion of through traffic. They are, by
far, the most expensive to repair and maintain. One
aspect of his proposal sure to find favor with
candidates is some measure of political immunity
inherent in it: Interstate tolls would burden
through-traffic, out-of-state travelers
disproportionately.
In
his letter to Chichester, the former governor lists
specific projects that will give his proposal
regional appeal: “In Northern Virginia, the
list of projects is endless—widening I-66, adding
HOT lanes to I-95, I-395, and I-495 come to mind.
“In
Hampton Roads there are the Third Crossing, the MLK/Midtown
Tunnel and upgrading Rt. 460 to I-95, for example.
“In
Southside, completing U. S. 58 to I-81 and I-77,
upgrading Rt. 29 from Danville to I-66, and
beginning the preliminary work on I-73 would help
revitalize the region and improve public safety.
“In
Southwest Virginia, in addition to completing Rt.
58, starting the Coalfields Expressway and the 460
Connector would move projects that have been on the
boards for decades.
“In
the Shenandoah Valley, improving I-81, one of the
most dangerous roads anywhere, could begin.
“In
Central Virginia, upgrading Rt. 29 North and South,
and widening I-64 from Richmond to Newport News
would meet increasing needs of a fast-growing
region.”
Tolling
38 specific locations would, Baliles says, generate
funds “roughly equivalent to an additional ten
cents on the gas tax, plus a half-cent on the sales
tax.”
Will
this proposal come to fruition? Hard to say, with
certainty. But it might. If it does nothing more
than prompt the state’s political leadership to
file away its wishes for some magic bean solution to
Virginia’s growing transportation needs and face
reality, it will be a welcomed—and long
overdue—piece of work.
--
September 5, 2005
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