Thursday, January 10, 2013
Gov. McDonnell transportation plan - remove the gas tax
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| Photo via Flickr |
Eliminating the gas tax will take away one incentive to drive less. It will treat those who drive gas guzzling SUVs the same as drivers of lightweight fuel efficient cars. To make matters worse, the governor wants to penalize alternative fuel vehicle owners by implementing a surcharge of $100 per year. Raising the sales tax means that everyone will now pay for building and repairing roads they may not even use. Bicyclists and those who don't drive will pay the same as SUV drivers.
The gas tax was never enough to cover the cost of building and repairing roads, especially here in Fairfax. All taxpayers currently fund these additional costs through transportation bonds and other local taxes. We should be raising the gas tax to reduce that imbalance, not eliminating it.
One part of the plan that does make some sense: "Increase vehicle registration fees by $15 and dedicate the revenue to intercity passenger rail and transit." We would go further and dedicate a part of that $15 to funding bicycle and pedestrian projects. It's estimated that just under 10% of all trips are taken by walking and biking and yet only about 1% of transportation funds are devoted to those facilities.
Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth sums up concerns about this proposal "NO TAX ON GASOLINE? A TERRIBLE POLICY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS":
“The Governor’s proposal to eliminate all state taxes on gasoline isn’t bold, it’s terrible policy,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “It would send exactly the wrong market signal. By removing a user fee under which those who drive more, pay more for the upkeep of our roads, the proposal could increase the amount of driving and the congestion on our roadways, undermining any additional investment the state might make in capacity expansion.”
Labels: gas tax, governor mcdonnell
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Governor's list of transportation projects
Virginia Governor McDonnell recently announced 900 statewide projects to be funded by selling more booze, borrowing money, and taking $140 million from the general fund. Fairfax County projects include several that contain bike facilities: I-495 HOT Lanes Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities (probably trail connections, $100,000), Mulligan Rd widening from Route 1 to Telegraph Rd (wide outside lanes; it will become part of U.S. Bike Route 1 once completed, $584,625).Other projects that include some bike facilities include Rt 50 widening from Rt. 28 to Poland Rd (sidepath, $40,658,585), Fairfax Cty Pkwy Extension Project (sidepaths in three segments, $3,304,166, $742,862, $464,069), West Ox Rd widening from Penderbrook to Ox Trail (sidepath, $586,607, although we thought this project was completed), Telegraph Rd widening from Beulah St to Leaf Rd (bike lanes and sidepath, $13,245). Cyclists will need to ensure that other projects include bike facilities.
What's key with all of the listed projects is ensuring that VA complies with the "Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations." This is especially true of bridge replacements which occur much less frequently than road widening. See the Governor's press release.
Labels: governor mcdonnell
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Send ideas for improving bicycle transportation to Governor McDonnell
Governor McDonnell recently held a town hall meeting for government employees. During the question and answer period he was asked what was being done to promote active transportation:Audience: What ideas do you have for how we can promote and encourage active transportation?
Governor: Bikes, mopeds, horses.
A: The simplest being walking.
G: I guess if you live close enough to your workplace.
A: Most trips are less than 3 miles.
G: You mean the average commute? Really?
A: Most trips be they commuting, to get to the store, to get kids to soccer games are less than 3 miles.
G: You know what I think the biggest problem is? How busy are lives are. I would love to walk but you know what, I don't have time. With your busy lives and all of the demands you don't factor in that half an hour it takes you to walk and you factor in the 3 or 4 minute drive it takes to get there I think that's the biggest inhibitor. I tell you I know there have been some things done between our Secretary of Transportation and Norfolk Southern and some of the bike trails that have been created. Does anybody have a better answer? Secretary Connaughton's not here.
A: (The trail between Williamsburg to Richmond was mentioned.)
G: What would be your ideas; what do you think we ought to do?
A: There are many much cheaper, much simpler ways than that such as bike lanes on roadways, some pathways are important, replacing parking lanes with bike lanes, and making bike parking easier than car parking, reducing speed limits on roads is an important one.
G: Why don't we look at that. I'm doing my part, I actually walk to work now. Don't just think you have just one shot in the year [to provide feedback]. If you like what I'm doing or don't like what I'm doing, please tell me.
It's a common misconception that most of our trips involve commuting to work. Commuting to work comprises only about 20% of all trips. The rest are for family/personal business (30%), social and recreational (30%), and to school/church (5%). Most of these trips are less than 5 miles and many are less than 3 miles.Governor: Bikes, mopeds, horses.
A: The simplest being walking.
G: I guess if you live close enough to your workplace.
A: Most trips are less than 3 miles.
G: You mean the average commute? Really?
A: Most trips be they commuting, to get to the store, to get kids to soccer games are less than 3 miles.
G: You know what I think the biggest problem is? How busy are lives are. I would love to walk but you know what, I don't have time. With your busy lives and all of the demands you don't factor in that half an hour it takes you to walk and you factor in the 3 or 4 minute drive it takes to get there I think that's the biggest inhibitor. I tell you I know there have been some things done between our Secretary of Transportation and Norfolk Southern and some of the bike trails that have been created. Does anybody have a better answer? Secretary Connaughton's not here.
A: (The trail between Williamsburg to Richmond was mentioned.)
G: What would be your ideas; what do you think we ought to do?
A: There are many much cheaper, much simpler ways than that such as bike lanes on roadways, some pathways are important, replacing parking lanes with bike lanes, and making bike parking easier than car parking, reducing speed limits on roads is an important one.
G: Why don't we look at that. I'm doing my part, I actually walk to work now. Don't just think you have just one shot in the year [to provide feedback]. If you like what I'm doing or don't like what I'm doing, please tell me.
The Governor is going to look into promoting and encouraging more active transportation. Why not let him know that you think it's a great idea.
Dear Governor McDonnell,
I encourage you to promote better active transportation in Virginia. There are many solutions to our transportation problems, and active transportation is a very low cost way to encourage more people get out of their cars and using bicycles and walking to nearby destinations.
As you learned recently, most of our trips do not involve commuting to work, and most are shorter than 5 miles. Rather than taking 3 or 4 minutes to drive, in our area these trips often take much longer. Using a bicycle is a very a viable option in many areas and would be an even better option if we had better on-road bike facilities. While trails are useful, we have a connected road network that exists; we just need to make it better for bicyclists.
Sincerely
See a video clip form the meeting. From the Virginia Cycling Association discussion on Google groups.I encourage you to promote better active transportation in Virginia. There are many solutions to our transportation problems, and active transportation is a very low cost way to encourage more people get out of their cars and using bicycles and walking to nearby destinations.
As you learned recently, most of our trips do not involve commuting to work, and most are shorter than 5 miles. Rather than taking 3 or 4 minutes to drive, in our area these trips often take much longer. Using a bicycle is a very a viable option in many areas and would be an even better option if we had better on-road bike facilities. While trails are useful, we have a connected road network that exists; we just need to make it better for bicyclists.
Sincerely
Labels: active transportation, governor mcdonnell
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Governor's Multimodal Strategic Plan for Virginia
Vision for Multimodal Transportation in Virginia: Virginia will have a coordinated system of roads, rails, ports, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and aviation resources that provides integrated and efficient options that meet citizen, visitor and business transportation needs.
That's a good start; at least bicycling is mentioned right up front. These are the goals:Goal 1: Establish a seamless multimodal system that moves people and freight
Goal 2: Ensure the transportation system promotes and supports economic opportunity
Goal 3: Develop unified and collaborative transportation planning and implementation processes
Goal 5: Be an innovative pacesetter in technology, environmental protection and system management
Goal 6: Maintain a strong customer focus to address travel and business needs
Goal 7: Improve safety across all modes of transportation by reducing transportation related injuries, fatalities, and crashes
Goal 8: Develop and maintain a competent and stable workforce that maximizes human capital
These all sound good; I'm all for a safe, seamless multimodal system. To evaluate how well these goals are met there are a number of Measures of Success. The key measures for bicyclists are: 1. Number of Intermodal Facilities, 2. Number of Fatalities, Crashes and Injuries, and 3. Decreased Rate of Growth of VMT (vehicle miles traveled (by car)).Goal 2: Ensure the transportation system promotes and supports economic opportunity
Goal 3: Develop unified and collaborative transportation planning and implementation processes
Goal 5: Be an innovative pacesetter in technology, environmental protection and system management
Goal 6: Maintain a strong customer focus to address travel and business needs
Goal 7: Improve safety across all modes of transportation by reducing transportation related injuries, fatalities, and crashes
Goal 8: Develop and maintain a competent and stable workforce that maximizes human capital
There is little mention of bicycling and walking. It's inferred in the numerous mentions of "multimodal" but time will tell what that term really means. There is a statement about decreasing the rate of growth of VMT by increasing the use of public transportation, bicycles, and walking.
Most of the examples used for illustration concern other modes. One of the detailed measures of success does state "Improve accessibility to modes and activity centers" but there is only passing reference to the need to coordinate land use and transportation decisions.
Labels: governor mcdonnell
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Gov. McDonnell's transportation solution - Drink more liquor
At the governor's pep rally, or rather Town Hall meeting tonight, he discussed his desire to make government more efficient and to fund transportation by selling ABC stores. He said what we need is more liquor stores so we can sell more booze to build more roads. He would start by auctioning off 800 liquor licenses. When someone asked that since there are 13,000 places that sell beer and wine, shouldn't there be more places that sell liquor. He said we need to start gradually, implying that the number of places to buy booze would increase over time. Isn't that just what we need?A few speakers, who had arrived at 5pm to sign up, were asked to give their creative ideas about how we can reform government. About 90% said we should sell the ABC stores so we can have more liquor stores and sell more booze. When someone asked if the governor would end the $45M coal subsidy, there was an attempt to shout her down. When the governor said he wouldn't end the subsidy, he got a round of applause.
The best ideas, from the Sierra Club reps, were about providing incentives for energy conservation. As I recall, Virginia is 6th worst at energy conservation, and our low energy costs are offset by the need to use much more than other states. It was hard to argue against low cost measures to save energy.
Labels: abc stores, governor mcdonnell
Monday, August 23, 2010
Gov. McDonnell Town Hall meeting Wednesday evening
As we mentioned in an earlier post, Gov. McDonnell will be discussing his plans to solve the transportation crisis by selling ABC stores and drilling for oil off the Virginia shore at a Fairfax town hall meeting tomorrow evening. The meeting is on Wednesday, August 25 from 7:00pm-8:30pm, at the Center for Innovative Technology Auditorium, 2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300, Herndon. It's the upside down building at the intersection of the Dulles Toll Rd and Rt 28. Why not show up and give the governor one of your best ideas about getting people out of cars and onto bikes? We plan to ride there; the site is not served by public transit. There is bike parking located in the garage. If you would like to meet up in Herndon beforehand, let us know.
Update: You can see the powerpoint presentation that was given at previous town hall meetings (pps format). If you have a cost-saving idea (like providing bicycles to state employees for use during the day instead of driving), submit them to the reform.virginia.gov website. See a list of proposed government reform projects.
The Washington Post published an opinion piece on selling liquor stores to pay for transportation projects, Privatizing Virginia liquor stores makes sense, and a good letter to the editor pointing out why it's not likely to work, New liquor taxes won't fly in Virginia.
Labels: center for innovative technology, governor mcdonnell
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Transportation budget cuts
VDOT has been asked to cut projects with unspent funds. In the past these cuts were done proportionally so that one type of project, such as bicycle or pedestrian projects, was not cut more than others. The current cuts (known as recissions) do not have the proportionality clause. As a result, unspent bike/ped project funds could be cut more than others. One way to demand that the cuts are proportional is to contact Governor McDonnell. The League of American Bicyclists have made it easy to do so, with a draft message you can send. Visit their advocacy corner, fill out your contact information, and send the letter.Labels: governor mcdonnell, recissions
Friday, July 30, 2010
Gov. McDonnell to hold Fairfax town hall meeting
It's on the most western edge of the county bordered by the Dulles Toll Rd and Route 28. According to the WAMATA Trip Planner it's not served by public transportation. While I've never biked there, it seems pretty straightforward using Google Maps bike directions. What was he thinking? Was the meeting planned by the road lobby?
From the Governor's press release, "I have consistently found that the best ideas don't come from Richmond, they come from Virginians in communities statewide. We are focused on reforming state government to make it simpler, smaller and more efficient. To best accomplish this goal we must hear from the citizens who own that government, and who deal with it on a daily basis. That's why we are launching the 'Virginia Speaks' statewide town hall tour. It's your government, and we want to know how we can make it work better for you."
I guess he wants to hear from Virginians who drive. The meeting will be on August 25 from 7:00pm-8:30pm, CIT Auditorium, 2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300, Herndon. Why not show up and give the governor one of your best ideas about getting people out of cars and onto bikes.
Labels: center for innovative technology, governor mcdonnell
