Alert reader “Too Many Taxes” brings to my attention the sponsorship of House Bill 1198 by Del. James M. LeMunyon, R-Chantilly, in the past session of the General Assembly. The bill would have required state transportation agencies to “evaluate all significant transportation projects in and near the Northern Virginia Transportation District, including both highway and mass transit projects, and provide an objective, quantitative rating for each project according to (i) the total amount of reduction in traffic congestion regionally and, separately, (ii) the amount of reduction in traffic congestion expected to be achieved per dollar cost of the project.”
The bill would have been even more useful if it had applied the requirement statewide to all projects over a certain size, and if it had required the state to document the impact of transportation projects on accidents, economic development, the environment and public safety. According to TMT, the bill sailed through the House but died in the Senate Finance Committee.
If someone knows why, please let us know — post a comment!
