A Step Towards Meeting Our Transportation Challenges

Since being elected to the Board of Supervisors, I have been an advocate for transportation solutions in Fairfax County because I believe a well-functioning and well-maintained transportation system is critical to our future success. I worry that continued inaction from the Board, in the face of almost non-existent state resources, will decrease our mobility to the point where it begins choking off economic growth.

At the Board’s retreat in early February, County staff provided a detailed analysis of the County’s transportation needs over the next ten years. To meet our needs, they tell us we need an additional $3 billion in transportation funding -- over and above that currently provided for with Federal, State, and County funds -- just to achieve a reasonable improvement. That’s $300 million a year, or an amount nearly equivalent to ten percent of the County’s general fund.

This is why at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting I introduced a plan that begins to address the dire lack of funding for transportation in Fairfax County. What I offered, if implemented fully, would generate more than $40 million per year in new transportation dollars, and mark a proactive step toward addressing the significant challenges the County faces.

First, the proposal would dedicate for transportation funds generated by the Vehicle License Fee. Since its implementation, the Vehicle Fee has generated approximately $27 million a year, but has been placed in the County’s General Fund. Under my proposal, over a three year period, this fee would be moved out of the General Fund and instead committed solely to transportation. With implementation spread over three years, the impact on the General Fund would be relatively small and quite manageable. 

Second, under the proposal the Board would designate one-half of each year’s unencumbered carry-over funds to transportation - except in the event of an emergency situation. This idea was one of the proposals set forth by County staff at the recent Board of Supervisors retreat. Based on an average from the last five years, this action would result in approximately $23 million per year in new funding.

In difficult financial times I understand the burden our tax payers are facing. This is why I believe that it is important that neither of these proposals is funded by new taxes, but by placing first priority on funds generated by economic growth toward meeting our most daunting public challenge. This is one of the most important issues facing our County, and it demands our attention.