Failure to thwart HOT lanes in PWC

Harry Wiggins
Published: November 5, 2008

This is in reference to Cheryl Chumley’s report of Oct. 25, “Turning up heat on HOT lanes.”

The resolution passed by a 7-0 vote with one abstension demanding that the company proposing the HOT lanes on Interstate 95 appear before the BOCS is a hollow request.  As Chairman Corey Stewart
is well aware, Del. Paul Nichols submitted a bill, HB 135 in the 2008 session of the General Assembly, that would have prohibited HOT lanes on I-95 or Interstate 395. 

Prince William County officials, including Stewart failed to provide any support for the bill. By this failure, Stewart and his cohorts essentially endorsed HOT lanes on I-95/I-395 in spite of past resolutions
opposing HOT lanes. 

When it came time to do something in support of legislation that would have stopped HOT lanes, Stewart was either asleep at the switch or was taking a nod from Transportation Chair Joe May, who was
taking illegal campaign contributions from Transurban, an Australian company. The Virginia Public Access Project reports that on Aug. 22, May took a $1000 illegal campaign contribution from
Transurban. 

May never put Nichols’ bill on the committee docket to be heard, despite a similar bill that was heard and passed that prohibited toll lanes on Interstate 81. I wonder if Transurban’s contribution had
anything to do with May failing to allow Nichols’ bill to be heard. It is illegal, by state and federal law, for a politician to take contributions from foreign companies.

Stewart is right regarding the egregious nature of this proposed contract with Transurban; it would turn the management of I-95 and I-395 over to Transurban for 80 years. Further, if Transurban doesn’t
generate the projected profits from the HOT lanes the state taxpayers will bail them out. 

HARRY WIGGINS

Lake Ridge