Bob McDonnell: Wide support for amendments to transportation bill

Chris Graham

Throughout the 2013 General Assembly Session, nearly 60 transportation and business groups representing a diverse cross section of industries and associations in all parts of the Commonwealth endorsed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Virginia’s Road to the Future transportation funding and reform plan. The organizations listed below have now endorsed the governor’s amendments to make the legislation easier to implement and to address legal concerns about the bill and are urging the General Assembly to move the amended legislation forward.

McDonnell updates state’s response to winter storm

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell today updated the Commonwealth’s response to the recent winter storm that struck Virginia, and the impact the storm had on the state. The storm claimed three lives, two due to automobile accidents and one due to a falling tree. At its peak the storm cut electrical service to approximately 370,000 customers, but electric crews continue to make fast progress in restoration efforts with outages now down to less than 100,000 connections. Dominion Virginia Power estimates that 95 percent of its remaining outages will be restored by Friday evening at the latest.

Valley group applauds I-81 initiative

Chris Graham

Shenandoah Valley Network announced on Tuesday its strong support for a new legislative caucus created in Richmond. Nine members of the General Assembly representing the Shenandoah Valley have joined forces in a Northern I-81 Caucus to address problems with the state’s plan for widening Interstate 81 through the Valley.

McDonnell: Eliminate gas tax, increase sales tax

Chris Graham

With legislators and transportation leaders by his side, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Tuesday a plan that would provide more than $3.1 billion in transportation funding for the Commonwealth over the next five years, tying transportation funding to economic growth and replacing the state’s outdated gas tax revenue model with a 0.8 percent increase in the state’s sales tax dedicated to transportation.

AAA: Best and worst in Virginia transportation in 2012

Chris Graham

“One-and-done” is a phrase oft-used to describe the NBA’s controversial draft eligibility rule. Yet it also describes what happens to a team when it wins in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose in the second round. Most transportation projects can take “roughly 1 to 3 construction seasons from funded year to completion.” They aren’t “one and done” undertakings.