Transportation board seeks public input

Local governments might be doing something about Northern Virginia's traffic mess, and officials want to know if the people who drive the roads have anything to say about it.

Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority have greased the gears of bureaucracy and by next month could be borrowing $100 million to spend on roads and mass transit.

Residents will foot the bill via increased car rental taxes, hotel taxes, a car inspection fee increase or increased car registration fees. The NVTA could even implement a regional and unprecedented tax on vehicle repair services.

An NVTA vote on whether or not to levy seven different fees and taxes is expected July 12.

Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park officials are hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday when residents can offer their input on how to spend the $100 million.

"Part of it is to demonstrate to the public that we're here to do something," Prince William Supervisor Martin E. "Marty" Nohe, R-Coles.

He's helping host Thursday's meeting, where he hopes people will learn more about coming decisions that might ease some traffic jams in Northern Virginia.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Auditorium at George Mason University, Prince William Campus, 10900 University Blvd. in Manassas.

At 6:30 p.m. attendees can begin to sign up to make comments.

Each of Northern Virginia's nine jurisdictions is expected to vie for a piece of the $100 million.

Nohe said that Prince William County officials would like to spend their share of the money on four projects:

• Widen Prince William Parkway to six lanes in two different phases between Hoadly and Old Bridge, then Old Bridge and Minnieville roads.

• Extend Rollins Ford Road from its current terminus to Vint Hill Road.

• Build a park-and-ride lot just off U.S. 15 near Haymarket to help commuter bus service.

Parrish said building a Va. 28 overpass at the railroad tracks near Wellington Road is a major priority for the city --Virginia Railway Express is seeking some of the $100 million to pay for four to six new commuter train engines. New engines would allow for longer trains, meaning more room for passengers.

Earlier this year, the Virginia General Assembly approved a landmark

transportation bill that gives the NVTA the

authority to raise various fees and taxes to fund regional road projects.

If NVTA members approve the taxing plan next month, the NVTA can borrow money and start paying for road construction.

NVTA members are elected officials from nine Northern Virginia localities.

In the coming weeks NVTA members will be casting votes for or against raising money to pay for the $100 million bonds.

It's an all or nothing deal -- roughly two-thirds of the members must say yes to the taxing plan to initiate implementation. Without the two-thirds vote - which includes votes from jurisdictions representing two-thirds of the region's population - the money for transportation projects won't come.

"It's time to quit talking and start doing," said Hal Parrish, vice mayor of Manassas. He's the city's voting member on the NVTA.

Nohe represents Prince William County on the authority's board.

Both are interested in hearing what people have to say about the funding plan on Thursday. They're also eager to dispel fears that money collected in Northern Virginia could be spent to fund road projects in different parts of the state.

The NVTA would only spend the money in the jurisdiction where it's collected.

"We want to give our citizens the opportunity to learn because that's how rumor is dispelled and fear is dispelled," Parrish said. "What we want is the right information to be disseminated."
Source :http://www.potomacnews.com/