Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled a new plan to find more cash to fix the state's crumbling roads and bridges without raising taxes at a state conference in Norfolk Thursday.
The plan, meant to follow up on last year's $3 billion infrastructure investment, squeezes more money out of existing revenue sources.
McDonnell's proposal would increase the percentage of state sales tax dedicated to transportation from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent over the next eight years, an increase that the governor predicts will add $110 million to transportation coffers.
It would also allocate 75 percent of any year-end surpluses to transportation, as well as dedicate the first 1 percent in revenue growth over 5 percent each year to transportation.
"Transportation and economic development and prosperity are inextricably linked," McDonnell said in a statement. "Whether it's the infrastructure needed to move people and goods, or certain transportation-related industries poised for major growth and job creation, we must continue to make progress in improving our transportation networks if Virginia is to remain economically competitive."
But critics said the governor's plan was not what they were promised last year when politicians from both sides of the aisle supported the governor's $3 billion bond initiative. The governor at the time promised to find a new, continual source of transportation funding, they said.
"So far we haven't seen the second part, and what the governor is announcing is the second part is shifting money around. That's not a dedicated stream of money that is long-term sustainable," Del. Mark Keam, D-Vienna, said.
Others pointed out that some of the governor's ideas for transportation funding wouldn't see dollars trickle in for many years and would do nothing to solve immediate problems.
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"It's not the type of underpinnings that you really need for transportation," said Bob Chase of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. "This package doesn't seem to reflect the sense of urgency that I think is needed."
The governor's plan also includes providing matching funds for localities maintaining their own roads -- a measure that some see as a step toward the "road devolution" feared by local leaders.
"This is rearranging the deck chairs, and if this is asking localities to kick in more for transportation, that's the state once again drawing from the local government ATM. And we're tapped out," said Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay, D-Lee.
The governor will provide more details on his plan in the month leading up to the 2012 session of the General Assembly.
