RICHMOND, April 13, 2006 - The public has an opportunity to comment about essential rail, public transportation, commuter service, bicycle, pedestrian, and highway projects (except local/secondary roads) in the working draft of the Six-Year Improvement Program for FY 2007-2012.

The working draft of the program, which allocates funding to transportation projects over six years, will be available for public review after April 20, 2006, by going online to www.VirginiaDOT.org or visiting the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) district and residency offices.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will take public comments into consideration prior to adopting a final program. The CTB has a legal responsibility to adopt an updated program by July 1, 2006. This requires a process of holding public hearings and basing the program on the latest revenue picture. Since there is no budget currently, the draft program will be based on the latest official revenue forecast from the Department of Taxation. The revenues currently available in this year’s working draft will be significantly reduced from the existing six-year program due to decreased gasoline sales and transportation user fees; sharply higher asphalt, concrete and fuel costs; and continued rising maintenance needs.

Without additional revenues, several projects will be dropped from the program or significantly delayed. Construction funding will be reduced for the following systems:

Primaries (i.e. major roadways that are not interstates) - 20 percent reduction or $40 million a year

Secondaries (i.e. subdivision and rural roads) - 38 percent reduction or $67 million a year

Urban streets (i.e. streets within town and cities) - 41 percent reduction or $53 million a year

Without additional revenues, the state match for transit capital projects will drop to 21 percent, the lowest in the program history. This reduction in capital funding will shift more of the burden to localities at a time when increasing fuel costs are significantly impacting local budgets.

The CTB will hold three statewide public hearings on the draft six-year program at the locations below. The public is encouraged to attend the hearing that is closest to them.

Williamsburg, Tuesday, April 25, 2006, 6:30 PM Start
James City County
Administrative Building
101 C Mounts Bay Road
Building C

NEW LOCATION FOR NORTHERN VIRGINA
Fairfax, Wednesday, May 3, 2006, 7:30 PM Start
Fairfax County Government Center Complex
12000 Government Center Parkway
Rooms 4 and 5
Fairfax, VA


Salem, Tuesday, May 9, 2006, 6:30 PM Start
VDOT Salem District Auditorium
731 Harrison Ave.
Salem, VA

During the comment period, individuals will be allowed to speak for three minutes each. Groups will be asked to designate one person to speak on their behalf. If individuals cannot attend the hearing, they may send their comments by May 20, 2006 to:


Public Information Officer
Va. Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation
1313 E. Main St., Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23218-0590
drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov

Programming Director
VDOT
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov

More information will be available on the draft program when it is released next week.

Page last modified: April 21, 2006