What is your top transportation priority and how do you intend to fund it?

Virginia Business
October 2005

Kaine: The first step is to acknowledge that our transportation system is in crisis. We are spending too much time stuck in traffic at the expense of our work, families and communities. The old disconnected system, which relies on taxing-and-paving our way out of the problem, just will not work.

We must change the way we approach transportation issues by better linking transportation and land use planning, to ensure our communities and businesses have the infrastructure they need to thrive. I will also ensure the integrity of transportation funding by protecting the Transportation Trust Fund from raids and keeping the General Assembly's promise to dedicate auto insurance premium taxes to transportation. The latter step alone will add nearly $1 billion to transportation funding.

We can also bring more funding to the table through the use of public-private partnerships and using budget surpluses for transportation.

Kilgore: Individuals across Virginia have resorted to planning their lives around traffic, forcing them to miss time with their families.  In addition, one of the keys to retaining existing businesses and promoting business expansion in the commonwealth, including transferring goods through our ports, is the improvement of our transportation system.

Virginia must commit to implementing innovative and forward-looking initiatives that free up capacity on our existing network of roads and recognize that transportation is a service that should be treated like other goods and services.  This will allow the private sector to meet the demands of consumers in an open and free marketplace.

As governor, I will develop and implement innovative transportation solutions that empower Virginians and work to reduce congestion by: creating regional transportation authorities empowered with real decision-making authority to develop solutions to their transportation problems; protecting the integrity of the Transportation Trust Fund to ensure that every dollar of that fund is committed to transportation needs; requiring abusers to pay for slowing traffic down; renewing Virginia's commitment to public-private partnerships to build new roads faster and more economically; prioritizing the use of technology and development of the Virginia Intelligent Transportation System; and making transportation a priority in the budget.

Potts: My top priority for transportation is to develop a comprehensive plan for infrastructure improvements throughout the commonwealth within 90 days of taking office. Transportation is the linchpin to Virginia's economic growth, and the key to ensuring a better quality of life for all its citizens. I would call a special legislative session to address funding for my transportation plan and would consider all options for raising the revenue required to resolve this most critical issue.