Road session may run into traffic

Media General News Service
Published: June 20, 2008

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s $1 billion transportation bill won’t be the only proposal in the mix Monday as lawmakers return to take up the state’s road woes.

In the special session, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will put forth alternatives to address a growing statewide deficit for highway maintenance and the needs of traffic-snarled Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, is developing a proposal that will call, in part, for a gas-tax increase that would correspond to increases in the consumer price index and cap after 10 years. Colgan estimates that over 10 years, the tax would rise from 17.5 cents per gallon to about 30 cents.

Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, already has proposed an increase in the gas tax, which has not risen since 1986. He has said that each penny per gallon on the tax would generate approximately $52 million.

Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, favors funding road maintenance by placing tolls on interstate highways running through the state.

Kaine, facing stiff opposition from the House GOP leadership to his tax proposal, said yesterday that he is open to any viable alternative to his plan and would consider legislation that incorporated tolls on state roads.

But whether any proposal manages to pass both houses and meet Kaine’s approval is an different matter.

The governor has threatened to reject any proposal that does not provide funding for statewide highway maintenance—projected to cost $375 million next year and drain $600 million from the state construction budget by 2014. Republicans have said the maintenance projections are overestimated.

Kaine has bypassed a gas-tax increase in his proposal because of the politically sensitive issue of rising fuel prices.

Asked about the odds of winning approval for his bill, Kaine yesterday tried to do his best New York Giants impersonation.

“I’m a good fourth-quarter player,“ he said of the measure, introduced yesterday at a news briefing at the Capitol, which at times resembled an anemic pep rally.

Kaine challenged the House Republican leadership to come ready to play—and work toward a solution to the state’s transportation crisis instead of punting on a difficult issue.

“The time for kicking the can down the road is over,“ he said at the Patrick Henry Building. “Adult leadership means taking adult responsibility.“

The leadership in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates has said it is interested in a solution for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia but has sworn off any proposal that calls for a statewide tax increase.

Some lawmakers expect an impasse on Monday.

“I think I’m just going to bring a couple of legal files to work on,“ joked one lawmaker.

Ground zero will be the House Finance Committee—home to nine lawmakers who have signed a “no-tax pledge”—where Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, has indicated he will send Kaine’s bill.

House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry, who will sponsor Kaine’s bill in the House, described sitting in traffic for roughly an hour on recent trips to Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia. Yesterday, he applied gridiron terminology to the political gridlock he expects to face.

“I’m ready to carry the ball, coach,“ he said.

Highlights of governor’s transportation proposal
The proposal would raise $727.9 million in new transportation funding in fiscal 2009. That figure would rise to $1.08 billion in fiscal 2014.
Motor vehicle titling tax
Increase the state’s motor vehicle titling tax to 4 percent from 3 percent of the sale price. The increase would be phased in, with half a percentage point in January 2009 and the other half implemented in July 2009. The increase would raise $39.2 million in fiscal 2009 and rise to $212 million in fiscal 2014.
Vehicle registration fee
Increase the state’s annual vehicle registration fee to $49 from $39. The additional $10 would raise $72.5 million in fiscal 2009 and rise to $77.4 million in fiscal 2014.
Regional sales tax
Increase the sales tax in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to 6 percent from 5 percent on items other than food or medicine. In Northern Virginia, the extra 1 percent would raise $306.3 million in fiscal 2009 and $414.3 million in fiscal 2014. In Hampton Roads, it would raise $167.9 million in fiscal 2009 and $227.1 million in fiscal 2014.
Grantor’s tax
Increase the statewide grantor’s tax, paid by the seller of property, to 35 cents per $100 of the sale price from 10 cents per $100. The 25-cent increase would raise $142 million in fiscal 2009 for transit, rail and options such as teleworking and ridesharing, rising to $155 million by fiscal 2014.