The stories are flying fast and furious as the General Assembly prepares to convene again to discuss transportation. Among the more significant:
- Congestion pricing pilot project. Garren Shipley with the Northern Virginia Daily writes about a legislative package filed by Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, to authorize a congestion-pricing pilot program. On an interstate yet to be selected, the state would set up variable, time-of-day tolls to encourage motorists to drive less during periods of peak demand. Saxman would make the scheme “revenue neutral” by eliminating the gas tax in the transportation corridor for the duration of the pilot project, and he would allow voters to determine in a referendum whether to make the tolls permanent.
- Tolls for Hampton Roads. Christina Nuckols with the Virginian-Pilot quotes House Speaker William J. Howell as saying that he supports the idea of a regional tolling authority to pay for Hampton Roads road projects. Howell predicts that the idea will pass the House.
- Pilot Pundits Wrong Again. The editorial writers at the Virginian-Pilot are back to form, distorting the transportation debate beyond recognition. “The House’s leadership,” says the Pilot, “prefers a solution that includes almost no new revenue, which makes it no solution at all.” Guys, let me explain something. Tolls = new revenue! Read your own writer’s story!