Looming Transportation Showdown...

Some facts to consider going into the coming battle on transportation:

The dollar has 42% of the buying power it did in 1986. (the last year transportation funding was revised)

There are 34% more licensed drivers now than in 1986.

There are 53% more vehicles registered in Virginia now than in 1986.

Something else to think about here is that:

1. Transportation is primarily funded by tax on motor vehicle fuel sales.
2. As vehicles get better fuel economy they can travel more miles on less fuel... meaning that as road usage and wear increases, the money available becomes proportionally less.
   
   And...
   
   There has been an increase by 79% of miles traveled on Virginia's roads since... You guessed it... 1986.

Furthur....

In recent years Virginia has borrowed money to be able to build more than would be possible through traditional pay-as-you go funding

Paying the interest on these borrowed funds consumes an increasing share of $ DOLLARS $ available for construction:

• In 1989, debt service required 1% of construction funds

• In 2005, debt service required 14% of construction funds

• In 2010, debt service will require 20% of construction funds

Now the House of Delegates proposes to add Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Debt...

Remember,
As the transportation infrastructure ages... more maintenance is needed...

Virginia currently experiences a growth of over $50,000,000 per year in highway maintenance needs. (That's fifty million dollars a year)

Much maintenance of Virginia's road system has been continually left for later resulting in a significant backlog of upkeep waiting to be done.

By 2018, all construction funds will be required for maintenance...