Road Duties A Sticking Point for Localities

N.Va. Governments Balk At Responsibility Change

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) Kaine wants to make major changes to the plan, saying it will drain money from the general fund and shortchange rural areas. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press)

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that Northern Virginia governments probably will have to assume some responsibility for new local roads -- now planned and paid for by the state -- if they want to reap the benefits of the $1.5 billion-a-year transportation package passed by the General Assembly last week.

Kaine's comments came as Virginia Republicans launched an advertising campaign to try to pressure the Democratic governor to support the GOP-backed transportation plan. As early as today, the state Republican Party plans to air a 30-second television commercial that credits the GOP-controlled General Assembly with approving the plan to reduce traffic.

"Call Governor Kaine. Tell him: 'Start solving problems. Stop playing politics,' " concludes the ad, which will air on network and cable stations in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Kaine has promised to make significant changes to the transportation bill. He says the plan as drafted would erode critical services by draining money from the state's general fund and shortchange rural communities on road projects. If the General Assembly rejects the amendments, Kaine said, he may veto it.

"If there aren't amendments, there is certainly a possibility of a veto," he said on a radio talk show in Washington.

Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William county officials have also protested the Republican-backed measure, which would allow them to raise $400 million a year in local taxes and fees for road and transit improvements. As a condition of the new taxing power, however, the counties must agree to take on responsibility for planning and construction of new secondary roads -- a potentially costly proposition. The Fairfax Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Monday calling on Kaine to veto the bill if the provision remained.

On WTOP radio, Kaine said he was eager to sit down with county officials and hear their objections. But he also acknowledged that any legislative compromise is likely to involve increased local responsibility for secondary roads.

"I suspect so," he said after the program. "But we want to make sure that it's fair."

During the program, Kaine expressed optimism about avoiding a veto but said any transportation bill would be meaningless if Northern Virginia doesn't buy in.

"If Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun pull the plug, then the transportation bill is just a 105-page pile of paper," he said.

Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) said he would not support any bill in which responsibility for new secondary roads was transferred to localities.

"We don't agree with that," he said. "Our board's already spoken on the matter, and Prince William and Loudoun feel the same way. It's going to cost our constituents a lot of money."