Hurry up and wait

The race to nowhere on Virginia's roads

THERE WAS a brief round of finger-pointing last month after Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), the Democratic chairman of the House committee that oversees transportation and infrastructure, criticized Virginia for being last among the states in spending federal stimulus dollars on highway projects. In the heat of the state's gubernatorial campaign, Virginia Republicans seized on Mr. Oberstar's pronouncement as evidence that the state's transportation department (under Democratic administration these past eight years) needs reform. In response, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine wrote a letter defending the state's approach and noting that, by another measure, Virginia was closer to the national average when it came to directing stimulus funds to infrastructure projects.

There is a narrow point in all this and a broader one as well. On the narrow point, Mr. Oberstar appears to be correct that Virginia, whose rickety transportation infrastructure is among the state's most critical problems, has been slow on the draw. That's because state officials mostly ignored congressional instructions to fund "shovel-ready" projects and dedicated their stimulus cash to new construction that they think will do more to relieve congestion.

The broader point concerns the growing dilemma that confronts Virginia as it struggles not just to maintain an aging road network built mainly to support an agricultural economy but also to expand it to meet the demands of a rapidly urbanizing state. As Mr. Kaine rightly pointed out in his response to Mr. Oberstar, Virginia's six-year projected transportation revenue has dwindled by about 20 percent since 2008, or $4.6 billion. This has occurred as the main source of funds for transportation -- taxes on gasoline and auto sales -- has failed to keep pace with inflation and more fuel-efficient cars. By virtue of that lost revenue, the state is trying to run a six-year program on five years of revenue.

Compared with the immediate debate over moving relatively modest stimulus funds out the door, Virginia's overall needs are much more far-reaching. Starved of new funds by Republicans in Richmond, the state's roads are on course to become more clogged and more frustrating for millions of commuters. When the new governor takes office come January, solving that challenge should be at the top of his agenda.