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<br />April 22. 2008
<br />
<br />"RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, THE
<br />SENATE OF VIRGINIA, AND THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA TO MEET THEIR
<br />OBLIGATION TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND ITS CITIZENS TO
<br />PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AN ADEQUATE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, vehicular transportation problems in the Hampton Roads region
<br />have reached a serious level, and those problems are projected to become even more
<br />serious in the coming years; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, these transportation problems have long caused undue
<br />inconvenience and expense for families and businesses throughout the region, and they
<br />now threaten future economic growth; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, said problems particularly threaten the future growth of international
<br />trade, which will have a material and negative effect on the economy of the entire
<br />Commonwealth of Virginia and also on the success of numerous businesses and
<br />industries throughout Virginia that rely on efficient and timely international trade for their
<br />very existence, including in part businesses and industries in Charlottesville, Bassett,
<br />Rocky Mount, Chatham, South Boston, Stanley town, Scottsville, Kenbridge, Blairs,
<br />Ridgeway, Scottsville, South Hill, Altavista, Forest, Fiedale, Dillwyn, Batesville, Troy,
<br />Herndon, McLean, Reston, Dulles, Leesburg, Dulles, Winchester, Sterling, Chantilly,
<br />Manassas, Ashburn, Front Royal, Vienna, Fairfax, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria,
<br />Lorton, Oakton, and Fort Belvoir; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the entire Commonwealth of Virginia benefits immeasurably from
<br />the international trade that originates in the Hampton Roads region, yet the region bears
<br />a disproportionate share of the burden of vehicular cargo and rail cargo traffic generated
<br />thereby; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, our national security benefits immeasurably from the facilities of the
<br />United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and other branches of the armed
<br />services in the Hampton Roads region, yet the region bears a disproportionate share of
<br />the burden of vehicular military traffic generated thereby; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, in the 2007 Session of the General Assembly of Virginia, the Virginia
<br />House of Delegates proposed a regional transportation plan creating the Hampton
<br />Roads Transportation Authority ("HRTA"), and the Senate and Governor of Virginia
<br />ultimately concurred in approving this plan; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, HRTA consists of twelve Hampton Roads localities, to-wit the
<br />counties of Isle of Wight, James City, and York, and the cities of Chesapeake,
<br />Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and
<br />Williamsburg; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, in creating HRTA, the House of Delegates (the Senate and the
<br />Governor concurring) declined to provide any material state funding source for needed
<br />transportation improvements in the region, and instead merely authorized HRTA to
<br />impose various local taxes and fees on citizens and businesses in the region; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, a legal proceeding styled Marshall v Northern Virqinia
<br />Transportation Authoritv , record No. 071959, arose calling into question the
<br />constitutionality of HRTA; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, on February 29, 2008 the Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously
<br />held that a funding mechanism identical to that created for HRTA is unconstitutional
<br />because the General Assembly had improperly delegated its own taxing authority to
<br />HRTA; and
<br />
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