Here are the latest twists in the ongoing transportation saga: On his radio talk show, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine threatened to veto the General Assembly’s transportation bill if lawmakers reject his proposed amendments. Summarizes the Associated Press:
Kaine said he has three areas of concern to address in the 30 days he has to amend or veto legislation: Making sure the regional plans are workable and palatable to the local governments that will have to implement them; ensuring rural areas get their share of road aid and meeting an annual commitment to use general funds to service about $2.5 billion in transportation debt.
Also, read the coverage in the Virginian-Pilot and Times-Dispatch.
The Washington Post story emphasizes that local governments in Northern Virginia are not happy with the legislation, which would require them to take over responsibility for planning for and building secondary roads as a condition for raising some $400 million a year through regional taxes and fees. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Monday calling on Kaine to veto the bill if the provision remained. Prince William and Loudoun Counties also are likely to rebel.
But the GOP transportation package is a delicate thing, which could fall apart if Kaine tries to amend it, warns Del. Clay Athey, R-Front Royal. The plan, a compromise formed by Republicans, was passed in the only form that could be approved by both the House and the Senate, he told the Winchester Star. (Story available only to registered users.)
Update: Gov. Kaine needs to get his story straight, Del. Athey tells the Northern Virginia Daily. “The governor probably ought to read the bill before he goes running around the state telling people how bad it is,” Athey told reporter Garren Shipley.
HB 3202 doesn’t force anyone to take over secondary roads, said Athey, the primary author of the bill’s land-use sections.The legislation would allow the state’s nine urban counties with populations greater than 90,000 to take over their road systems if they so choose. If they do, they’d get the money and equipment that the state has been using as well as its employees.
In some cases, counties would get more money than the Virginia Department of Transportation is spending on them now, Athey said.They’d also get the right to impose impact fees on areas outside of the Urban Transportation Districts that counties would begin to maintain.
Kaine spokesman Kevin Hall responds that Athey needs to read his own bill. Line 329 “couldn’t be more clear.” Here is the most recent version of the bill. Does anyone know which line is “line 329”?
