On Transportation, Allen and Webb Share Views

Va. Senate Candidates Seek Metro Extension, Easing of Toll Road Construction

U.S. Sen. George Allen (R) wants Virginia to get back every dollar it sends to the federal government in the form of gas tax revenue. So does his Democratic challenger, James Webb. Webb is in favor of a plan to give $1.5 billion in federal funds to Metro if regional officials match it. So is Allen. Both support a plan to extend Metrorail to Dulles International Airport.

In a close Senate race that has focused on character issues and radically different views on the war in Iraq, the candidates agree on federal transportation policy and the need to increase Virginia's share of federal largess.

The Virginia Department of Transportation estimates that it will receive $876 million from the federal government this fiscal year and that the amount will increase an average of 2.5 percent over the next four years.

The candidates say that is not enough.

"Virginia gets back the lowest rate of return, ninety-one cents of every dollar we pay in gas taxes," Webb said in a statement. "We need to do better, especially given the extensive congestion created by the federal government facilities in Northern Virginia."

The Allen campaign said the senator also supports the goal of returning 100 percent of Virginia's contribution to federal gas-tax revenue, saying he worked last year to increase the state's level to 92 percent.

Both candidates support a bill by U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) that would pump $1.5 billion into Metro's operations if Virginia, Maryland and the District matched the funding. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. Allen tried to get the bill out of committee and passed by the full Senate as the session was wrapping up last month, campaign officials said.

Securing federal funding for an extension of Metro's Orange Line to Dulles has been Allen's top transit priority, according to his Senate office.

Allen avoided a controversy this year on whether the project should include an expensive tunnel through Tysons Corner that could have jeopardized funding by raising the cost above federal guidelines. Allen agreed with Davis and Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) that the overall project's success was more important than the tunnel but thought that state and local officials should make the call. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) decided against the tunnel.

Webb understands Kaine's decision.

"The bottom line is that he supports the way the governor is handling it, but it's a shame that it can't move forward in the way it should because of a lack of federal funding," said Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd.

In a debate last month, the candidates said they were generally in favor of making it easier for private companies to build and manage toll roads. With a lack of state funds for new highways, Richmond officials are negotiating with private companies to build express toll lanes on part of the Capital Beltway in Virginia and along interstates 395 and 95.