In an age where state budgets face more and more demands and are ever harder to balance, protecting transportation funding has become a major focus for many states’ transportation groups.
Many states are turning to what is generally called a “transportation lockbox.” It’s essentially a law or amendment that protects the portion of the state budget set aside for transportation—limiting the General Assembly's ability to use highway dollars for other purposes.
For years, transportation was dramatically underfunded in Virginia, and securing transportation funding has been a major goal of Virginians for Better Transportation since its creation. In 2013, we worked to increase the portion of the state budget that went to transportation. Then, in 2014, we established the SMART SCALE system to ensure the best use of limited tax dollars.
Think of the lockbox as the third leg in the stool of transportation funding: First, we increased our funding, then we established a fair system for allotting funding, and now we are protecting that funding. With all three parts in place, we can make a difference in transportation for Virginians.
So where does the lockbox stand in Virginia? Last year, the General Assembly passed an amendment to approve a lockbox to keep transportation funding used on transportation. If the amendment passes in the Assembly again this year, and is approved by voters, Virginia’s “historic raids on transportation funds” will finally be curbed.
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Fast Fact
| DYK? In 2016, Virginia experienced nearly 750 fatalities from automobile accidents. The benefits of transportation safety improvements will not just make commutes better, it will save lives. We must secure more funding for road projects that keep our drivers safe as they travel the Commonwealth. (DRIVE SMART Virginia) |
Transportation News
Thousands of Virginia bridges get low grade despite VDOT assurances they’re safe to use (Potomac Local) Virginia's bridges are in a troubling state, especially in the southwestern part of the commonwealth. Of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s nine districts, Bristol has the highest number of bridges and culverts rated D or lower on the agency’s “health index,” an indication of the overall soundness of a structure.
Getting There: Full load of transportation projects coming to the Fredericksburg area (The Free Lance-Star) The Free Lance-Star outlines some of the transportation projects brewing in the Fredericksburg region, including Chatham Bridge, Nice Bridge, Massaponax Interchange, Thornburg Interchange, and higher speed rail.
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