Rust, Howell Address Constituent Concerns at Town Hall

Del. Tom Rust (R-86) and Sen. Janet Howell's (D-32) town hall meeting in Herndon on Saturday often turned toward the subject of transportation in Virginia.

Paul Olson, a local business owner, said transportation is his biggest concern. He said he hates the toll road and thinks it’s unfair. He said his business spends about $2,500 yearly on the toll road.

Olson asked if area representatives would consider a local gas tax to help create a fund for Fairfax County to pay for its own roads. He also asked if Northern Virginia residents will always have to pay tolls on Route 267.

Rust said in 2002 there was a referendum to add a sales tax to fund roads, but it didn’t make it through General Assembly. He said they never tried it as a gas tax, though.

“This is just not the year for that,” Rust said. He said Governor Bob McDonnell, who carried Fairfax and Loudoun counties, ran on a no tax pledge and has promised to veto any tax increases.

Rust said he has put in bills every year to provide a transportation funding source that is long standing, but none have ever passed and he did not put one in this year. “Politically, it’s probably the wrong year,” he said.

Rust said he doesn’t believe the tolls will come off during his lifetime. “I wish I could tell you they’re going to come off,” he said. The tolls at the mainline plaza are set to increase by another 25 cents on New Year’s Day 2012.

Howell said this is not the year that they will see increased funds for transportation. She said the situation in Virginia in regards to transportation is grim.

One area resident in attendance asked Rust and Howell to vote against privatizing the Alcoholic Beverage Control stores. The resident said, “It’s a classic ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,’” issue. He also asked about Howell’s bill on banning talking on a cell phone while driving. He said he wanted to know why the bill didn’t list it as a primary offense.

Rust said when it comes to the governor’s ABC proposal, it wasn’t accepted with very much excitement, and he agreed with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” sentiment.

Howell said she is opposed to the ABC proposal. She said a new proposal is coming and none of the representatives have seen it, but she is very concerned with it. “It would triple the number of outlets for alcohol in Northern Virginia,” she said. She said they would also lose control of what the stores look like.

When it comes to the cell phone bill, she said she supports making it illegal to use them while driving and has put forth similar bills in recent years, however they have all died in the house militia and police subcommittees. She said making the offense secondary means the bill may have a better chance at passing.

Local resident Rob Whitfield said he is disappointed in the governor’s transportation package and the fact that there’s nothing in it that will help reduce the cost of the toll road users. He said the tolls are unacceptable and the projected ridership studies from 2004 are no longer accurate. “We need a congressional investigation of this project because it’s out of control,” he said.

Whitfield said, “The public who use the toll road have no voice in this process.” He said that would give the region more power in the toll setting process has some issues with it.

Rust said there is nothing in the governor’s $4 billion transportation package for Dulles rail and he has asked the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to see if more federal funding can be found for the project. There is no federal funding for the second phase of the project.

Herndon resident Barbara Glakas said she supports LeMuinyon’s effort on the toll roads but doesn’t know that his proposal will work. She said airport users should also have to pay to use the toll road and local representatives should continue to fight for federal assistance.

Rust said LeMunyon’s bill is problematic in a number of ways. “If it goes through, the Dulles rail will stop at Wiehle Avenue, period,” he said. “And I don’t think anybody in this room wants that to happen.” He said the bill is a “send the message” bill.

Howell said she agrees when it comes to LeMunyon’s bill. “It’s well intentioned, but its consequences are really serious.”