Governor Kaine Submits Amendments to Transportation Bill (HB 3202)

Statement

- Signs bills to improve land use and traffic flow -

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today made the following statement, announcing significant amendments to HB 3202, the transportation bill passed by the General Assembly:

"Over the last month, I have had conversations about House Bill 3202 with hundreds of locally elected leaders, business owners, interest groups, citizens, and legislators around the state. I have heard from people in every part of Virginia who want a workable transportation package.

"I am offering substantial amendments to the transportation legislation that will address three critical issues: ensuring that the regional plans in our two largest metropolitan areas are workable and acceptable to local elected officials; ensuring that rural areas get a fair share of transportation dollars; and ensuring that core services are protected and that the debt contained in the package is supported in a fiscally responsible manner.

"In addition, my amendments adhere to the principles that have guided all of my work on transportation: create better accountability by locking up the new transportation funds and provide for better connections between land use and transportation planning with new growth management tools.

"These amendments will address the concerns I raised about House Bill 3202 when it came to my desk, as well as many of the concerns Virginians have brought to me over the past month. The bill as amended represents an important step forward in meeting our transportation needs. I urge the General Assembly to accept my amendments."

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