Transportation Package Nears Approval in Northern Virginia

Local elected officials in Northern Virginia say they are likely to approve a groundbreaking, multimillion dollar regional transportation package -- including higher taxes and fees -- that was a key part of the comprehensive bill passed by the General Assembly this week.

Although lawmakers in Richmond overwhelmingly approved the package, collecting the money for regional road and transit projects cannot begin until officials representing nine Northern Virginia counties and cities vote in favor of seven new taxes and fees. The package would raise $324 million a year, and area governments could generate an additional $100 million for themselves by approving three other fees.

The decision about whether to impose the seven regional taxes technically rests with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, a panel of elected area officials created almost five years ago whose duties have been largely advisory and symbolic. If the Northern Virginia plan is approved, the authority would have unprecedented power to impose taxes and authorize $3 billion in bonds over the next 10 years to fund transportation projects.

In interviews, seven of the panel's nine representatives of area governments said they would probably vote to approve the regional taxes and fees, which include raising hotel, rental car and auto repair taxes as well as vehicle registration and inspection fees. Two members were undecided. A two-thirds majority is needed.

Although the transportation authority is scheduled to meet next Thursday and is likely to discuss the roads plan, it is unclear when the panel will vote on the regional package. The legislation goes into effect July 1, and the new taxes and fees cannot be implemented until Jan. 1.

Authority Chairman Chris Zimmerman (D), an Arlington County Board member, predicted that the panel would approve the plan because it sent a letter to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) on March 15 supporting the legislation. "It is reasonable to say there is a high likelihood the authority would adopt it based on the support the members have given the bill," Zimmerman said. "It is not a guarantee. But I anticipate working to implement the bill the governor put forward."

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) said approval of the package by the authority is pretty much ensured.

"I think there will be discussion and debate, but at the end of the day, it would be very hard for the authority not to proceed," Connolly said. "There is going to be some resistance to the imposition of new fees and revenue sources, but . . . it's a moment of truth for us."

Kaine said yesterday that he hopes the area governments will enact the plan because they had a big role in helping him make changes in it. "It is not a guarantee. . . . I know there is another step, there is implementation step, but they told me what it would take to get these plans implemented and I did those things," Kaine said.

The $324 million plan does have its detractors in the region. They say that the General Assembly lacked the courage to impose taxes on its own, pushing that responsibility off to local officials in an election year.

"My lip is curling up in a snarl here," said Loudoun County Supervisor Sarah "Sally" Kurtz (D-Catoctin). "I haven't forgiven the governor for not vetoing that." Kurtz said she remains undecided on whether she backs the plan.

"Do I have a choice? They made the principal decisions when they decided to abandon the state being responsible for its transportation system, to sort of create these enclaves of people taxing themselves locally," Kurtz said. "What happened to the Commonwealth? . . . Are we going to keep everyone in the rural areas from driving on our roads? I mean, get real here."