Governor Kaine Announces 2007 Legislative Initiative On Transportation

Governor Kaine Announces 2007 Legislative Initiative On Transportation

- Package includes land use, accountability, and revenue proposals -

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced a package of transportation policy and funding proposals he will submit for consideration by the 2007 General Assembly. The package seeks to better link land use to transportation, increases accountability and performance standards among the Commonwealth's transportation agencies, and identifies sustainable, dedicated transportation funding, modeled on the Governor's proposal from last year.

"As we have been saying for the past year, transportation is our most urgent issue. We've made important progress, but critical work in land use, accountability, and funding remains undone," Governor Kaine said. "I believe strongly that we must act as soon as possible to address these issues. With each passing month, the transportation issues that we face become more significant, and our purchasing power becomes less as construction costs rise."

For the typical citizen, one who does not purchase a vehicle or commit repeated traffic offenses, the Governor's revised $850 million transportation revenue package will cost approximately $15 each of the next two years, and approximately $20 each year after that.
Land Use Proposals

Recognizing that state government has not given localities many of the tools they need to properly manage growth, Governor Kaine will ask the 2007 General Assembly to give local governments the power to deny rezoning requests when there is not enough transportation capacity to support the increase in traffic.

The proposal builds upon successful 2006 legislation introduced or supported by the Governor, and adopted with bipartisan majorities, that requires a traffic impact statement for major land use decisions, and allowing for the transfer of development rights.

"Now that we have the traffic impact statement process in place, it is time to give local governments this additional authority," Governor Kaine said. "Effectively linking land use to transportation means empowering local governments, and our proposal will allow local governments to turn down rezoning based on transportation infrastructure."

Proposed legislation on subdivision streets will set improved criteria for accepting subdivision streets into the state highway system, to ensure that roads are well built and, where appropriate, properly integrated with adjacent development before the state accepts the responsibility to maintain them.

Legislation on access management will help ensure that existing roads are protected from unnecessary curb cuts and turning movements that can diminish their effectiveness, allowing traffic to flow more efficiently and smoothly.

Legislation on Intermodal Planning will enhance the effectiveness and stature of this office in shaping and implementing a long-term, integrated vision for Virginia's transportation future.
Transportation Accountability

Governor Kaine noted significant and continued progress over the past year on transportation accountability: the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) now completes 90% of highway construction projects on-time and on-budget, and VDOT has undertaken a process to streamline and outsource more operations to ensure that our largest transportation agency is as efficient and effective as possible.

Last month, Governor Kaine appointed a Transportation Accountability Commission to develop performance standards allowing citizens and policymakers to better evaluate the on-going performance of Virginia's transportation agencies and professionals.

"One legislative matter that remains to be completed is locking up our Transportation Trust Fund," Governor Kaine said. "Every transportation revenue bill I introduced has contained an enactment clause stating that the measure will expire if the money is every used for any purpose other than transportation. However, it is time for the House of Delegates and State Senate to reconcile their differing versions of this bill so we can pass a constitutional amendment locking up the Transportation Trust Fund.

"It's time to get this done," Governor Kaine said.
Long-term, Sustainable Funding

Governor Kaine also introduced a transportation funding package that addresses the approximately $450 million annually that will be taken from highway construction and put into highway maintenance, as well as the approximately $120 million annually that also will be taken from highway construction to repay the approximately $1.1 billion in debt issued against future federal revenues since the year 2000. These two items siphon needed resources from the highway construction budget.

The Governor's proposal also makes significant investments in rail and mass transit, because Virginia's transportation solution cannot be "asphalt-only." The Governor's proposal also makes long-term investments in local revenue sharing and private funding proposals.

"Last year, after only six days in office, we introduced a responsible package of transportation user fees that was calibrated so users of the system provided dedicated, sustainable funding for transportation. The package I am announcing today is closely related to last year's transportation revenue package," Governor Kaine said.

The Governor's plan:

* Permanently dedicates existing auto insurance premium taxes to transportation, a law enacted in 2000 but only followed twice.
* Equalizes the sales tax on vehicles to equal the sales tax for other non-food items. Virginia's current 3% motor vehicle sales and use tax rate is 44th lowest in the country. Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Tennessee are all at least 5%.
* Imposes an abuser fee on motorists who drive under the influence, drive recklessly, or commit certain other offenses.
* Increases the registration fee for vehicles from the current $29.50 to $44.50 in 2007, and $49.50 in 2010.
* Increases the registration fee on heavy trucks, commensurate with the increase on automobiles.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=319