2011 Year in Review: Virginia Transportation Reform Campaign
Virginia Transportation Reform Campaign: 2011 Year in Review
The Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) has become a watchdog of VDOT spending. With $3 billion extra in borrowed money, VDOT has gone on a spending spree and risks squandering our tax dollars. VDOT’s shifts in funding priorities are harming northern Virginia and other metro areas, and will fuel fiscally unsustainable land use practices. To combat these irresponsible actions, we have been:
- Challenging the erosion of bipartisan initiatives on secondary street connectivity, urban development areas, and traffic impact studies. These initiatives, led by Republicans in the 2007 General Assembly and by former Governor Tim Kaine, are designed to reduce transportation and other infrastructure costs. So far, CSG has protected these laws, but we have lost ground. For example, newly revised and weaker connectivity standards for new development will lead to more traffic on existing roads.
- Challenging the diversion of funds to wasteful rural highways. These projects fail to meet real needs, and they divert funding from the transportation challenges in Virginia’s metropolitan areas. Working with our partners at the Virginia Conservation Network, we have challenged and offered alternatives to the following:
- VDOT’s revival of the Outer Beltway as a “Corridor of Statewide Significance.” The first 10 miles could cost $250 to $475 million, harm Manassas Battlefield, and divert funds from fixing roads like I-66.
- VDOT failure to do a thorough, objective study of I-95/395, looking only at privately controlled toll lanes and “no build,” instead of also considering enhanced transit, HOV, and other options.
- VDOT’s refusal to invest in Tysons Corner’s transportation needs. They are also paying less than five percent of Dulles Rail Phase 2, leaving northern Virginia taxpayers and Dulles Toll Road users to foot virtually the whole bill.
- VDOT’s push to spend over $750 million for a private rural toll road in Hampton Roads, even though local leaders say their top priority is fixing bridge and tunnel crossing delays. Instead, VDOT is also diverting $200 million or more to an ineffective, controversial highway in Albemarle County.
