American Dream

Last word on transportation problems
Departing commissioner cautions that economy and quality of life threatened
BY PETER BACQUE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Saturday, July 2, 2005

Quotes:

Virginia's transportation system is in a deep decline that threatens the state's economy and quality of life, the state's outgoing transportation commissioner warned in his last communication with the General Assembly.

"We face serious trouble," Philip Shucet said in his letter to the legislators. "Not only is Northern Virginia's vibrant economy seriously threatened, but growing pressures in Hampton Roads could cripple one of her most important economic engines -- the port."

Transportation provides the foundation for economic health in Southside Virginia, the Piedmont, the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia, he said.

But, Shucet said, "We have more work to do to educate the public and ourselves about the impact of a backward-sliding transportation system."

He urged next year's legislature to find "sustainable sources of revenue" for the state's highway, port, aviation, rail and public-transit systems.

Virginia's transportation taxes have been fixed since 1987, losing more than 40 percent of their value to inflation since then. Meanwhile, the miles traveled by vehicles on Virginia's 57,000 miles of roads have grown by more than 50 percent and the
number of vehicles increased by 60 percent.

Shucet said the Virginia Department of Transportation "does not have to be big to be good."

VDOT's 9,300-member work force should continue to shrink, he said in the letter Tuesday.