How is Virginia’s transportation budget battle going to affect you?

You may have heard the news – the Virginia transportation budget is expected to fall short by $600 million this year.  The federal government is giving Virginia less money than expected, and there’s less money coming in from gas and consumer taxes thanks to high oil prices and the sorry state of our economy.  What does this mean for the roads in your neighborhood?

Basic maintenance will probably be unaffected, however new roads or road improvements – even projects designed to improve safety – will be shelved until a later date or not completed at all.  The General Assembly is trying to fill an estimated $385 million gap for next year’s state highway maintenance and generate more than $500 million in funding for the congestion-clogged regions of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

To help the budget, Governor Kaine has recommended a tax increase, which wasn’t well received at the General Assembly.  Virginians aren’t likely to embrace paying higher taxes right now either, considering how much they’re already paying for gas and how their homes have plummeted in value.

When are lawmakers going to stop bickering and work together to do something about the congestion and poor state of our roads?  Preferably something that does not include taking even more money from an already cash-strapped population.