Governor McDonnell Finalizes Transportation Package
Adds Toll Road Authority and Naming Rights
Passes on Indexing |
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Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell added several components to the transportation program he announced in December, but chose not to include indexing the state gas tax to inflation*.
New provisions of particular note include:
- Local transportation plans must be consistent with the Statewide Transportation Plan and Six-Year Improvement Program.
- Localities terminating or amending projects for which state or federal funds have been spent must repay amount spent or fund cost of changes.
- Creation of the Virginia Toll Road Authority to oversee construction, operation and maintenance of toll roads.
- CTB can sell naming rights to transportation infrastructure. Proceeds to Highway and Maintenance Operation Fund.
- Secretary of Transportation shall work with localities to develop proposal for devolving secondary roads to localities for consideration during 2013 session.
- Secretary of Transportation shall, with Northern Virginia localities, study issues surrounding creation of Northern Virginia Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The package is included in several bills --
Transportation Funding and Reform - House: HB 1248 Co-Patrons: Lingamfelter/Rust;
- Sales Tax: Increases transportation's share from 0.5% to 0.75%
- General Fund Revenue Growth: Dedicates 1% of growth above 5% to transportation.
- Surplus Revenues: Increases transportation share to 75%
- Transportation Improvement Districts: CTB can create districts wherein 25% of growth in state tax revenues attributable to a transportation project goes to Transportation Trust Fund.
- Plus (as above): Naming rights, Virginia Toll Road Authority, state/local plan consistency, local fiscal liability for project termination/changes, devolution, NVMPO.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board Composition -- HB 252 (May) and SB 237(Colgan)
- Increases MWAA board of directors from 13-17 with two additional seats to Virginia, one to MD and one to DC.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Reform - HB 601 (LeMunyon)
- Codifies Virginia's seat on WMATA board of Directors.
- Establishes qualifications for board appointment.
Port of Virginia Promotion and Reform - HB 1183 (Cosgrove/Purkey); SB 578 (Wagner)
Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority Promotion and Reform -- HB 813 (May); SB 284(Herring)
To read Governor McDonnell's press release, click here.
*Gas tax indexing bills introduced include: HB 899 (Albo) and SB 162 (Petersen)
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