Jan. 24-A bipartisan coalition introduced Gov. Bob. McDonnell's Omnibus Transportation bill. Sen. Roscoe Reynolds from Ridgeway is a co-sponsor of this bill, anticipating funding for U. S. Route 58

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2011 Contact: Jeff Caldwell Phone: (804) 225-4260 E-mail: Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.Gov Bipartisan Coalition Introduces McDonnell Omnibus Transportation Bill Five Senate Democrats Sponsor Bill; Democratic Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Colgan is Co-Chief Patron Speaker William Howell Patrons Bill in House 43 Business and Transportation Groups Statewide Have Endorsed Plan RICHMOND – A broad bipartisan coalition will sponsor Governor McDonnell’s Omnibus Transportation Funding Bill in the Senate and House of Delegates this session. In the Senate, nearly half of the entire body has signed up to sponsor the bill. Seventeen members have signed their name to the measure, with five Democrats among the group. The Senate bill's chief patrons are Senators William Wampler (R-Bristol) and Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and President pro tempore of the body. In the House of Delegates, Speaker William Howell (R-Stafford) will serve as chief patron of the legislation. The bills have been introduced as HB 2527 in the House and SB 1446 in the Senate. Speaking about the early, strong bipartisan support, Governor McDonnell remarked, “There are no Democratic or Republican roads. Our citizens need new roads to get to work on time, and home to their families a little earlier. Our businesses need new roads to expand their operations, create good-paying jobs and get our economy moving again. The broad list of legislators from both sides of the aisle who are leading the effort to pass this transportation plan is indicative of the fact that while many issues get political in Richmond, transportation should not be one of them.� The Governor continued, “Our transportation plan will bring new roads and bridges to every region of the Commonwealth. We will finally get long delayed projects underway. I thank the Speaker for serving as Chief Patron of our bill in the House. The importance of this legislation is demonstrated by his taking this action. I similarly thank Senators William Wampler and Chuck Colgan for taking the same role in the Senate. A senior Republican from Southwest Virginia and a senior Democrat from Northern Virginia are the perfect chief patrons of this statewide effort. We were all sent to Richmond to accomplish big things for our citizens, and now is the time to get new roads built in the Commonwealth. I look forward to working with the legislature to get this plan passed in the weeks ahead. It is time to get people and businesses moving again in Virginia.� In addition to the chief patrons, the following Senators have signed on as bill patrons: · Sen. Edd Houck (D-Spotsylvania) · Sen. Steve Martin (R-Chesterfield) · Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) · Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach) · Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg) · Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) · Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) · Sen. Phillip Puckett (D-Tazewell) · Sen. Roscoe Reynolds (D-Martinsville) · Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta) · Sen. Walter Stosch (R-Glen Allen) · Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland) · Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester) · Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) · Sen. John Watkins (R-Midlothian) The Governor’s Omnibus Transportation Funding Bill will: · Create the “Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank� (VTIB) to multiply transportation dollars. · The bank will be initially capitalized with $150 million from the 2010 budget surplus and $250 million from VDOT audit-identified funds; The bank will reach $1 billion total during the McDonnell Administration. · Modify Virginia Code to authorize Direct GARVEE bonds. This would allow the Commonwealth to issue up to $1.1 billion in direct GARVEE bonds and utilize toll credits for state match. · Accelerate the sales of bonds from 2007 transportation legislation to a maximum of $600 million per year, providing ability to issue up to $1.8 billion in bonds during remainder of the Administration. · Increase the availability of revenue sharing, specifically eliminating the $1 million cap per project and $50 million program maximum. All told, the plan will inject $4 billion into Virginia’s transportation network over just the next three years. 900 projects have been identified that can begin construction within the next three years if the legislation is approved, including: · Widening of I-66 for Gainesville to Haymarket as well as the installation of an active traffic management system on I-66 to dynamically control lanes in order to reduce congestion · Widening a key section of Rolling Road in Fairfax County to address the expected traffic impacts of BRAC · Major interchange improvements on I-64, I-81 and I-95, in Frederick, Augusta, Stafford, and Louisa counties · Widening Route 7 in Loudoun County · Rebuilding the Route 460 Southgate Avenue intersection in Montgomery County · Widening Lynnhaven Parkway, Indian River Road and Witch Duck Road in Virginia Beach, as well as replacing the Lesner Bridge · Widening Route 28 in Fairfax and Prince William counties · Investments in Washington Metro, Hampton Roads Light Rail, and other transit providers, including VRE to extend to Spotsylvania County. · Several major projects throughout the Route 58 Corridor, a critical link for southern and western Virginia · Advancing PPTA projects such as the widening of Dominion Boulevard in Chesapeake; the constructing of a new tube for the Midtown Tunnel between Norfolk and Portsmouth; advancing the HOV/HOT lanes on I95/395 in Northern Virginia **A complete list of all projects supported by this legislation can be found here: http://www.virginiadot.org/news/resources/Statewide/sectran/Combined_Master_1-13-11_V10_SOT-No_Phase.pdf