 VTA Members and Friends,
The General Assembly began last week on January 11 with an anticipated adjournment on March 10 and Veto session on April 18.
With division in the Senate over organization, Senate committee membership has changed substantially. The Senate Finance Transportation subcommittee members have been appointed; below is the subcommittee list with links to their e-mail addresses:
Frank Wagner (Chairman), Charles Colgan, Richard Saslaw, John Watkins, Yvonne Miller, Stephen Newman, Ryan McDougle.
While the House leadership has changed little, we have to broaden support among many new House members.Below are House Appropriations Transportation subcommittee members with links to their e-mail addresses: Joe May (Chairman), Beverly Sherwood, Scott Lingamfelter, John O'Bannon, Christopher Peace, Edward Scott, Jim Scott, Algie Howell |
 Bills of Interest
A surprising number of bills introduced divert funds that now go to the Transportation Trust Fund and redirect them to Highway Maintenance and would undermine the development of a multi-modal transportation network. This is reinforced by the Governor's statements that would redirect General Funds, and "surplus" funds for transportation maintenance and construction only is his priority. His introduced budget would shift about $180M in General Funds over the biennium to the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund (to reduce the draw on construction funds from the TTF) and the Infrastructure Bank.
The Introduced Budget essentially flatlines transit funding over the biennium. This in spite of the fact that Dulles Rail Phase I will begin operations during this biennium and transit for the HOT lanes will be taken off the top of the Mass Transit Fund. The net effect is that the Transportation Trust Fund (transit, airports' and ports' predominant source of funding) is being bypassed by new funding. This would consign a growing transit program to a shrinking fund base. We will try to add transit to revenue bills for highway maintenance, but it remains to be seen how receptive this legislature will be.
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BUDGET AMENDMENTS Click here for Revised Budget (Transit-Rail) Summary
VTA has introduced 2 budget amendments in the Senate and House:
1) Redirecting $9 million of the $67.2M in surplus funds for FY11 to transit. This represents the same proportion of funds that now go to transit in the TTF: 14.7%. The Governor's introduced budget dedicated all $67.2M to Highway Maintenance. Sponsors: Senator Saslaw (e-mail), Delegate Jim Scott (e-mail ) 2) Redirecting a total of $20M over the biennium ($10M in FY13 and FY14) from economic development to the Mass Transit Fund for operations. I urge you to ask businesses along your routes that benefit from public transit service to contact their legislators and the Governor to insist on the importance of maintaining public transportation service as well as roads, by added state funds for transit as well as roads. Ask your Chamber to weigh in as well. Back to Top |
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Bill Update
We will be distributing updates and alerts periodically to keep you informed of positions along with important actions pertaining to bills.
Click here for a list of bills that we are currently monitoring in numerical order. New bills are being introduced on a daily basis; we will update our list as necessary.
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REMINDER: January 30 Legislative Reception for Legislators, Members and Sponsors
Please come early, stop by and visit with your legislators or their aides and also stop by the legislators on Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees who represent your region. The General Assembly this year is especially competitive for funds and not a particularly friendly environment. We need all the help and voices we can get. Your help is needed and appreciated!
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Linda McMinimy
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