Governor Kaine Seeks Support from the Northern Virginia Business Community in Addressing Transportation Needs
McLean, Va., February 15, 2006 - The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and the Greater Washington Board of Trade today gathered an audience of 435 business and technology executives to hear Governor Tim Kaine's goals and priorities for the Commonwealth of Virginia.The crowd welcomed Governor Kaine with a standing ovation and frequently interrupted his remarks with applause as he laid out his transportation priorities. His goals include establishing substantial, reliable, long-term investments in transportation, providing dedicated funding sources, and requiring users of transportation infrastructure to pay for road improvements.
The governor stated that he is committed to working with the Virginia Legislature on this issue and that any successful legislative compromise would need to include better management of VDOT and securing the Transportation Trust Fund, better coordination of land use and transportation planning, and improving the ratio of spending on new transportation projects to spending on road maintenance.
"Make sure you talk to your legislators. Tell them not to come home empty handed," Governor Kaine said. "This problem has been studied long enough. There's no excuse for inaction."
Transportation funding is a top priority for NVTC and the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and both organizations have called for Virginia policymakers to identify and commit this year to a significant new, stable, long-term revenue stream to address transportation funding needs for Northern Virginia and the entire state.
