Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"As much as the word “tax” is decried, Virginia’s transportation system cannot be sustained or improved without additional revenue."
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, January 16
By Delegate Tom Rust (R-86th) Since Governor McDonnell took office as governor, major investments have been made in Virginia’s transportation infrastructure. There have been approximately $1.8 billion in bonds sold, another $1.2 billion in GARVEE bonds proposed, savings and efficiencies in VDOT of $1.4 billion and creation of the Virginia Infrastructure Bank all of which are moving forward. Major projects in Virginia include the Downtown-Midtown tunnels in Hampton Roads, the I-95 improvements, the I-495 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes, the Route 460 improvements, the Silver Metro Line, all totaling approximately $14 billion in projects. All of this is applied to the Virginia highway system — approximately 126,000 miles — the third largest …
Monday, January 14, 2013
Constituents in Rust's 86th district question tolls, transportation alternatives, taxes.
Constituents in the 86th district were able to hear an update from Del. Tom Rust, as well as ask their own questions, during his town hall meeting on Saturday at the Herndon Council Chambers. Rust said during the first three days in session they heard about 2,000 bills. He said Virginia is one of four states in the country with a AAA bond rating, and is fiscally conservative due to its constitutional requirement to have a balanced budget. “Money is basically what drives everything down there,” Rust said. He said it doesn’t matter what the issue is, “if we don’t have the money, we don’t do it.” Rust said currently Medicaid takes up 21 percent of the entire general fund budget and is growing at an unsustainable rate. One resident in …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Meetings on Tom Rust's plans for Virginia's 2013 General Assembly planned Jan. 7 and 12.
On Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly begins its 2013 Session, which will last for 45 days. Del. Tom Rust (R-86th), who represents Herndon and parts of Sterling Park, Oak Hill and Chantilly, has announced several ways for constituents to stay informed and to make their views known during the session. Rust will hold three town hall meetings open to the public as he begins his work: • 7 p.m. Monday at Rachel Carson Middle School, 13618 McLearen Rd., Oak Hill. A representative from Virginia Department of Transportation will be on hand to discuss snow removal procedures. • 9 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Herndon Town Council Chambers, 765 Lynn St., Herndon • 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling Local …
Barbara Glakas
8:35 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
It doesn’t really matter what Tom tries to do. The greater problem is that Tom is a Republican and his caucus in the House of Delegates is controlled by southern rural legislators who elect a Speaker who will never let us solve this problem here in Northern Virginia. Until there is a change in party control, nothing will happen. more ›