In March 2007, before final passage of HB 3202, members of the Prince William delegation to the Virginia General Assembly spoke to Chamber members at the Joint Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast of the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce. Senators Charles Colgan, Jay O’Brien and Linda “Toddy” Puller and Delegates Bob Marshall, Michele McQuigg, Scott Lingamfelter, Jeff Frederick and Jackson Miller spoke about the bill that they would approve in April 2007, saying:
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“You asked us to do something and I think we did what you asked.”
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“What we did is imperfect but it’s what we could get out.”
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The pressure of frustrated citizens and the fact that this is an election year compelled the General Assembly to act.
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Many in Northern Virginia are concerned that the Northern Virginia portion of the bill would rely on commercial real estate taxes for its funding, but we tried for a gasoline tax that would be paid by all who travel our roads and it was killed.
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A good component of the legislation is that it relies on the General Fund for some of its funding. This makes sense as transportation is a core government priority.
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A separate bill passed the General Assembly that allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to impose tolls on primary roads for their expansion and maintenance. Its implementation would provide a source of funding for improvement of those roads.
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The issue of transportation has been a wedge preventing the General Assembly from acting on other important issues.
