| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Jeffrey Caldwell 804-786-2715 Jeffrey.Caldwell@vdot.virginia.gov 804-337-7264 Jennifer Pickett 804-786-7432, 804-221-1853 Jennifer.Pickett@DRPT.Virginia.gov |
CO-0845 Dec. 18, 2008 |
REVISED 2009-2014 DRAFT SIX-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM RELEASED
$2.6 billion reduction in overall transportation funding will result in $1.3 billion in cuts to highway and transit projects with $400 million in additional reductions necessary
The draft released to the CTB details $1.3 billion in proposed reductions to highway projects and adjustments to public transit, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in response to a $2.6 billion reduction in overall state and federal transportation revenue. Additional reductions to the program are likely to follow as the recently announced December revenue reduction is addressed. Reductions to administrative programs and other services will account for more than $1 billion in cost cutting measures.
The release of the draft program today will be followed by a series of public hearings around the state in early January. The CTB will finalize the revised program in January.
“We are holding this unusual mid-year revision of the six-year program because of the significant changes to the official transportation revenue estimate,” said Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer.
“This revised plan cuts $1.3 billion from our six-year program in addition to the $1.1 billion we had to remove from this plan when we ratified it in June. As transportation revenues continue to shrink, we must develop a fiscally responsible program to govern transportation investment in the commonwealth.”
In the draft plan released to the CTB Thursday, the $10.6 billion program adopted in June was reduced to $9.3 billion with cuts to all highway systems including:
- $614.9 million in interstate funds
- $240 million in primary road funds
- $198.6 million in secondary road funds
- $89.5 million in urban road funds
Demonstrating a commitment to fund public transportation and rail projects, impacts to rail and transit funding were kept to a minimum.
“As we developed these revisions to the program,” Homer said, “we focused on maximizing federal funding, continuing project phases that are already under way, and developing needed projects for safety, bridges and reconstructing existing infrastructure. However, there are simply more needs than we have funding available.”
The revised program, lists of individual project impacts by VDOT district, and copies of the presentations given to the CTB are posted at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
Public Input Sought on Revisions
The revised program will be available for public review via the Web and during a series of five public hearings to be held around the commonwealth. Lists of specific projects and changes from the current program will be available at each public hearing, at www.VirginiaDOT.org and www.DRPT.Virginia.gov and at VDOT district and residency offices prior to the hearing.
Except where noted, each hearing begins at 6 p.m. Please attend the hearing that is most convenient for you. The districts of focus for each meeting are listed after the meeting location.
Monday,
Jan. 5, 2009
New River Valley Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
Bristol/Salem
Tuesday,
Jan. 6, 2009
VDOT Culpeper District Auditorium
1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701
Culpeper/
Staunton
Wednesday,
Jan. 7, 2009
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Hampton Roads
Monday,
Jan. 12, 2009
VDOT Central Office Auditorium
1221 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Richmond/
Fredericksburg/
Lynchburg
Tuesday,
Jan. 13, 2009 ,
7 p.m.
Fairfax County Board Room
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Northern Virginia
Verbal and written comments will be accepted at the hearings and comments will be accepted via mail or e-mail until Jan. 14, 2009. The plan will be finalized by the CTB in January.
During the public comment period for the revised Fiscal Years 2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program, DRPT is also accepting comments on the Rail Resource Allocation Plan, which provides additional information regarding the rail projects proposed in the revised Six-Year Improvement Plan. Comments on the Rail Resource Allocation Plan, which is available online at www.drpt.virginia.gov/studies/default.aspx should be directed to DRPT at drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.
Public Information Office
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
1313 E. Main St., Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov
Programming Director
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
six-yearprogram@vdot.virginia.gov
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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
