Approved by the board of directors at its meeting on January 26, 2007

The 729+ members of HRACRE are extremely disappointed in the 2006 General Assembly’s failure to pass legislation that would invest in our great Commonwealth’s long-term future by providing new, sustainable, broad-based revenue to finance our Commonwealth’s woefully inadequate transportation infrastructure. We are all familiar with the crisis:

·         The Commonwealth requires $2 Billion annually in new revenue sources to fund long-overdue infrastructure projects.

·         The cost of maintaining existing infrastructure is growing at such a pace that within 6 years, there will be no funds available for any new transportation projects, leading to Virginia’s losing Federal gasoline tax dollars to other states.

·         In Hampton Roads alone, $275 million annually in new revenue is required to support the Metro Planning District’s Regional Transportation Plan.

·         Failure to invest in Virginia’s transportation responsibly will lead to:

o   Unsafe roads (already every 17 minutes there is an accident in Hampton Roads);

o   More traffic delays (the Road Information Program recently found that inadequate road conditions and congestion cost Virginians $4.7 billion annually in delays, auto repairs, lost time, and wasted fuel);

o   Reduced economic growth as companies who depend on reliable transportation networks will look elsewhere to locate facilities and jobs.

o   And much greater cost ($7 billion is budgeted over the next 20 years for $33 billion in projects. In 2026 the $26 billion in unfunded projects will increase to $66 billion).

·         EVERY SINGLE VIRGINIAN, no matter their age, employment status, or demographics, relies on, benefits from, and therefore must invest in our Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure. Roads, mass transit, and driver’s license are a privilege, not an entitlement. All stakeholders must take responsibility to invest in our future.

HRACRE urges Hampton Roads’ leading business and civic organizations to unite in the demand that our legislators INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. Our recommended investments for our Commonwealth’s transportation system include:

1.      NEW revenue sources totaling a minimum of $1 Billion annually to support the regional and statewide transportation maintenance and new construction needs.

2.      New broad-based, shared, long-term, sustainable revenue sources are absolutely necessary, rather than fees or taxes that are indirect or hidden from the ultimate payer.

3.         Broad-based sources of new revenue that HRACRE could support to meet the need for $1 Billion annually in new revenue dedicated to transportation, include:

a.       Increase in gas tax.

b.      Increase in sales tax.

c.       Reasonable tolls on new and existing roads to fund construction of new roads, bridges, and tunnels as well as improvements to existing transportation facilities.

d.      Increase in motor vehicle registration fees.

e.       Increase in drivers license fees.

f.       New fees on bad drivers.