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V-DOT budget for local cities for the next six years is exactly...Zero
What do you think about V-DOT's proposal to cut funding to Hampton Roads for the next six years?
V-DOT told cities they wouldn't get any money next year. Now those cities and both unfinished and planned road projects may not see the light of day for
another six years!
For the next six years cities here in Hampton Roads won't receive any money from V-DOT for road projects. NewsChannel 3 met with the secretary of transportation, Pierce Homer, in Richmond right after V-DOT made the announcement.
"Absent dedication of new money to transportation there will be no allocations to counties, secondary roads, or to cities for urban streets, that's a profound change," Homer said.
A profound change that has Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms outraged.
"It's unacceptable, it's unacceptable," he said.
Without the millions of dollars that Virginia Beach usually receives from V-DOT, many major projects won't be happening, like the extension to widen Witchduck Road from I-264 to Virginia Beach Blvd. It's been put on hold indefinitely. The plan to expand the interchange at I-264 and I-64 also won't get done.
"We have road construction that needs to occur in our city as well as in our region that needs to occur. And it's more than just a convenience for these roads. This is about how we bring new businesses to our region, this is how we get our economy growing again," said Mayor Sessoms.
All seven cities in Hampton Roads have already been hit hard by V-DOT's budget cuts. Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth didn't get any money for projects from V-DOT this fiscal year. By next year Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk won't get a cent either.
Today's announcement from V-DOT means this road crisis will continue for at least the next six years.
"There is simply no money of the magnitude that's necessary to do those kinds of major projects," said Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer.
"You know that's quite alarming, I can go back seven or eight years and our funding was $150 million - and it got reduced to $90 million, to $50 million, now down to zero," Mayor Sessoms added.
This will now have cities scrambling to figure out how they'll get projects done. Mayor Sessoms says he plans on fighting V-DOT's plan.
"We do have a transportation problem here, we must deal with it. We cannot put off these projects for six years. I do believe we can meet with our legislatures and they will understand that projects cannot be put off for six years."
There are still no plans on the federal or state level to provide money for V-DOT in the next six years. But one option being considered by V-DOT is to charge tolls to drivers here in Hampton Roads. They want to put a toll on the downtown tunnel and at the midtown tunnel. They say it will be affordable, less than two dollars, but that's not as affordable as free. Of course all of this is a proposal.
IF YOU WANT TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS, SEND EMAIL TO: six-yearprogram@vdot.virginia.gov
For the next six years cities here in Hampton Roads won't receive any money from V-DOT for road projects. NewsChannel 3 met with the secretary of transportation, Pierce Homer, in Richmond right after V-DOT made the announcement.
"Absent dedication of new money to transportation there will be no allocations to counties, secondary roads, or to cities for urban streets, that's a profound change," Homer said.
A profound change that has Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms outraged.
"It's unacceptable, it's unacceptable," he said.
Without the millions of dollars that Virginia Beach usually receives from V-DOT, many major projects won't be happening, like the extension to widen Witchduck Road from I-264 to Virginia Beach Blvd. It's been put on hold indefinitely. The plan to expand the interchange at I-264 and I-64 also won't get done.
"We have road construction that needs to occur in our city as well as in our region that needs to occur. And it's more than just a convenience for these roads. This is about how we bring new businesses to our region, this is how we get our economy growing again," said Mayor Sessoms.
All seven cities in Hampton Roads have already been hit hard by V-DOT's budget cuts. Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth didn't get any money for projects from V-DOT this fiscal year. By next year Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk won't get a cent either.
Today's announcement from V-DOT means this road crisis will continue for at least the next six years.
"There is simply no money of the magnitude that's necessary to do those kinds of major projects," said Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer.
"You know that's quite alarming, I can go back seven or eight years and our funding was $150 million - and it got reduced to $90 million, to $50 million, now down to zero," Mayor Sessoms added.
This will now have cities scrambling to figure out how they'll get projects done. Mayor Sessoms says he plans on fighting V-DOT's plan.
"We do have a transportation problem here, we must deal with it. We cannot put off these projects for six years. I do believe we can meet with our legislatures and they will understand that projects cannot be put off for six years."
There are still no plans on the federal or state level to provide money for V-DOT in the next six years. But one option being considered by V-DOT is to charge tolls to drivers here in Hampton Roads. They want to put a toll on the downtown tunnel and at the midtown tunnel. They say it will be affordable, less than two dollars, but that's not as affordable as free. Of course all of this is a proposal.
IF YOU WANT TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS, SEND EMAIL TO: six-yearprogram@vdot.virginia.gov
This is a different subject, At this time of the year Please DO NOT put cash in your cards as they stand a VERY good chance of NEVER arriving. Or arrive opened & the money gone. I have experince as 3 recent cards did not arrived & cash was GONE!
Ruth Cornwell @ 3:22 PM EST, Dec 1, 2009
Raise hell with your state representative. If they don't get anything for the area they are supposed to represent, I say it is their fault.
Gary Moeller @ 8:46 PM EST, Nov 26, 2009
CHILD PLEASE
citizen @ 6:05 PM EST, Nov 24, 2009
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