Minutes 11/23/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 23, 2004 Purpose and Need: · The State is now in the longest period of no adjustments to State taxes and user fees for transportation since 1946. · Virginia's tax rate is 41st in the nation. The national average of motor fuels tax is 24.3 cents -Virginia's is 17.5 cents. · Today, for every licensed driver in Virginia, $38 in State transportation revenues make it to the core construction program compared to $89 fifteen years ago. · For every $1 that was available for highway construction in 1986, 73 cents was spent on maintenance. For every $1 construction dollar in 2003, $1.85 will be spent on maintenance. During the next five years it is projected that highway maintenance will increase $234 million, while systems construction will decrease $168 million from FY04 levels. · If current trends continue, VDOT will not have sufficient funding even to match available federal construction funding by 2013. In fact, 66% of today's severely congested roadways in the Commonwealth have no identified funding for at least 20+ years if nothing is done to address this crisis. · In Hampton Roads, the congested and severely congested lane miles and vehicle miles traveled have all significantly increased over the past ten years. Without additional revenue sources during the next ten years, the Hampton Roads transportation system will have congestion levels similar to current Northern Virginia conditions, most interstate corridors will have many segments operating at speeds of 25 mph or below during peak periods, all major bridge tunnels will operate below 10 mph during peak periods, and many major urban arterials will operate at less than 25 mph. Financial Impact: · Reduction and elimination of funding for current and future Portsmouth transportation projects, as well as other regional transportation projects that impact Portsmouth. · Significant potential long-term financial and transportation congestion impacts on Portsmouth citizens if no additional revenue sources are approved by the General Assembly. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, 363 Middle Street, spoke in support of this item. Motion by Mr. Heretick, and seconded by Mr. Smith, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION TO ADDRESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA'S TRANSPORTATION CRISIS. WHEREAS, much of Virginia's money for transportation projects comes from the motor vehicle fuels tax, which has not been increased since 1986, and WHEREAS, since 1986, 40% of the state's buying power has been lost because of high building costs, and WHEREAS, by FY 2010, if current trends continue, there will be n._9.o money available after operations and maintenance for new road construction, and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia will be unable to match their requirement to obtain federal funding for new construction, and WHEREAS, tolls as a sole source of revenue have been shown to be insufficient to fund needed transportation infrastructure unless coupled with other funding mechanisms, and