Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Editorial: A toll too far
If Hampton Roads legislators don't want a toll on the tunnel, they need another idea.
From the RoundTable blog
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One of the more critical traffic choke points in Virginia is the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The 52-year-old crossing is never a fun place to be during rush hour, but last summer's breakdown of a pump inside the tunnel -- and the resulting traffic nightmare -- demonstrated just how vital, and vulnerable, the crossing is.
The incident certainly captured Del. Joe May's attention. The Leesburg Republican introduced a bill that would put a $2 toll, each way, on the HRBT. The toll would raise about $100 million a year, which would be dedicated to operation, maintenance and repairs to the crossing. The money could also be used for future improvements or a replacement for the crossing.
Even though tolls are one revenue source that House Republicans are not reflexively hostile to, May's bill got a very chilly reception in a transportation subcommittee.
Del. Glenn Oder, the only delegate from the Hampton Roads area, was especially passionate in his opposition.
"I cannot begin to tell you the desperate situation this bill will create if it is passed," he said. "This is so unfair. Please don't do this to the Hampton Roads region."
Do what? Direct some much-needed revenue in its direction?
Oder also complained that May's proposal was a piecemeal approach to a statewide problem. On that issue, Oder is correct. But efforts at statewide approaches to the problem have gone nowhere for years.
May saw a critical need going unmet and introduced legislation to do something about it.
His bill wasn't killed outright in the subcommittee. It will go before the full House Transportation Committee, but the subcommittee's objections will carry weight.
If Oder and other Hampton Roads legislators don't want tolls, they should offer alternative approaches for funding ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement of this critical but inadequate route.
Better yet, they should help develop a comprehensive plan for funding critical transportation needs statewide.
