Breaking News for Culpeper and Warrenton Accident Victims

Virginia Seeks Shovel Ready Road Projects in Anticipation of Stimulus Approval

Posted on Feb 05, 2009

In 2007, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority compiled a list of ready-to-go projects in 2007. While the list has been more or less gathering dust since it was put together, it may actually come in handy if the stimulus package circulating in Washington DC gets approved.

If the stimulus package is approved, Virginia stands to receive as much as $800 million in transportation funding. The money would be used to fill part of the void left in this year’s transportation budget. The budget shortfall is a major issue for Virginia, where many roads need improvement to reduce the number of auto accidents and crashes.

A provision of the bill requires that the funds be allocated towards transportation projects quickly or else the money will be lost. Because of this, state lawmakers are working hard to compile a list of “shovel-ready” road projects. Shovel ready projects are those that can be started as soon as funding is received.

Although $800 million sounds like a lot of money to most people, it won’t go far in Virginia. Tiny Arlington County has about $500 million in needed road projects, $100 million of which are ready to go now. And considering the enormous burden of commuter traffic in Northern Virginia alone, it is going to be a challenge for lawmakers to find a way to fairly distribute funds throughout the state.