Road Session May Run Into Traffic

RICHMOND - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s $1 billion transportation bill won’t be the only proposal in the mix Monday as lawmakers return to take up the state’s road woes.

In the special session, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will put forth alternatives to address a growing statewide deficit for highway maintenance and the needs of traffic-snarled Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, is developing a proposal that will call, in part, for a gas-tax increase that would correspond to increases in the consumer price index and cap after 10 years. Colgan estimates that over 10 years, the tax would rise from 17.5 cents per gallon to about 30 cents.

Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, already has proposed an increase in the gas tax, which has not risen since 1986. He has said that each penny per gallon on the tax would generate approximately $52 million.

Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, favors funding road maintenance by placing tolls on interstate highways running through the state.

Kaine, facing stiff opposition from the House GOP leadership to his tax proposal, said Thursday that he is open to any viable alternative to his plan and would consider legislation that incorporated tolls on state roads.

But whether any proposal manages to pass both houses and meet Kaine’s approval is an different matter.

The governor has threatened to reject any proposal that does not provide funding for statewide highway maintenance—projected to cost $375 million next year and drain $600 million from the state construction budget by 2014. Republicans have said the maintenance projections are overestimated.

Kaine has bypassed a gas-tax increase in his proposal because of the politically sensitive issue of rising fuel prices.

Asked about the odds of winning approval for his bill, Kaine tried to do his best New York Giants impersonation.

“I’m a good fourth-quarter player,“ he said of the measure, introduced Thursday at a news briefing at the Capitol, which at times resembled an anemic pep rally.

Kaine challenged the House Republican leadership to come ready to play—and work toward a solution to the state’s transportation crisis instead of punting on a difficult issue.

“The time for kicking the can down the road is over,“ he said at the Patrick Henry Building. “Adult leadership means taking adult responsibility.“

The leadership in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates has said it is interested in a solution for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia but has sworn off any proposal that calls for a statewide tax increase.

Some lawmakers expect an impasse on Monday.

“I think I’m just going to bring a couple of legal files to work on,“ joked one lawmaker.

Ground zero will be the House Finance Committee—home to nine lawmakers who have signed a “no-tax pledge”—where Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, has indicated he will send Kaine’s bill.

House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry, who will sponsor Kaine’s bill in the House, described sitting in traffic for roughly an hour on recent trips to Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia. Thursday, he applied gridiron terminology to the political gridlock he expects to face.

“I’m ready to carry the ball, coach,“ he said.