| How
to Make a Better Transportation System |
|
To the editor:
|
| By the time this letter is printed, we will have the results
of election day. We have just gone through months of claims
and counter-claims for the sales tax increase referendum.
However, regardless of the voter¯s preference, we still have
work to do; i.e. "Plan B." |
| Here are some actions that must be taken to achieve a functioning
transportation system within the Commonwealth: |
| 1. Send Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Ken Plum back to Richmond
for one more time to get the transportation construction funding
formula updated to include population and congestion factors
as their top priority. |
| 2. Implement the 1986 half-cent tax increase for transportation
and "fence" the funds. |
| 3. Restore the $317 million to the Transportation Trust
Fund that Gov. Warner took to balance the budget in FY 2002-2003.
Forbid any further raids on the Transportation Trust Fund. |
| 4. Develop incentives and requirements for businesses (remember,
businesses are supporting this tax increase) to implement
telecommuting programs for an average of one person-day each
week to achieve a 20 percent decrease in cars on the road. |
| 5. Implement "intelligent" traffic engineering and management
systems. |
| 6. Conduct a zero-based budget review of all state agencies.
Audit each agency down to the position to ensure that our
tax dollars are properly allocated and wisely spent on the
highest priorities. |
| 7. Take the fat out of the VDOT budget and put the money
directly into road and transit projects. Let¯s not see six
VDOT workers leaning on shovels watching the 7th do a little
work. VDOT should contract out to the private sector work
that is commercial, and the contract should be performance-based:
no work, no pay. |
| 8. Combine VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and
Public Transportation into one agency to enhance the probability
that the new department will develop coordinated transportation
systems within the Commonwealth. |
| 9. Revise the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
legislation to eliminate "divisible pork" disagreements already
in place; i.e., Alexandria, with a population of less than
half of Prince William, will receive almost double the funds.
Define its relationship to the Commonwealth Transportation
Board and VDOT, and limit it¯s charter to a funding agency
only with limited staffing. |
| 10. Implement "pay-as-you-go" road construction. Authorize
bonds for no more than 10 years. With many road construction
project occurring at the same time, shortages in labor and
materials will occur and wasteful premium prices will be paid.
|
| Donn D. Dears |
| President |
| Republican Club of Greater Reston |
