Richmond.comThursday, January 05, 2006It's time again to warm up the highlight reel to reveal the best transportation advances and worst gaffes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where we saw some major advances and setbacks in mobility and safety, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic's annual transportation review.
"Perhaps the hallmark of the year appeared to be a realization that we can't let transportation locally deteriorate any further," noted Lon Anderson, Public and Government Affairs Director for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "Thus we saw a major financial commitment made in Virginia, where we also saw a gubernatorial campaign largely focused on transportation.
"Conversely," Anderson continued, "we saw the Virginia Legislature refuse to renew the legal authority needed for several Virginia jurisdictions to operate their automated enforcement program to catch red-light runners, forcing localities to end life-saving deterrence at intersections."
Here are the best (and worst) of the rest:
The best in our region:
Virginia makes a major investment in transportation (at last). It was only a one-time commitment, but when Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and the legislature agreed to invest about $800 million in transportation last spring, it was the largest single transportation appropriation in state history and was a very welcome infusion of cash that would ensure continued progress on transportation issues throughout the Commonwealth.
Virginia's Governor's race demonstrates an understanding: Transportation is the Region's No. 1 issue. In the last election, both gubernatorial candidates, Jerry Kilgore or Tim Kaine, had the same key message: elect me and I fill fix transportation in Virginia. It's been a long-time coming, but transportation is finally a top tier - even premier - campaign issue. Now that Tim Kaine is the Governor-elect, he has been holding Transportation Forums throughout the Commonwealth, seemingly to fulfill his campaign pledges to address Virginia's transportation crisis - especially in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
The worst in our region:
Sky-high gasoline prices sock the Commonwealth. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, gasoline prices in the Commonwealth of Virginia skyrocketed to record highs. Three-dollar gas became the norm as prices soared as high as $3.14 on average throughout Virginia. In contrast, the highest national average price level was $3.06.
Gasoline prices in Virginia were consistently among the most expensive in the nation, but the Commonwealth normally ranks among the least expensive places to purchase gas.
Virginia Legislature refuses to renew Red Light Automated Camera Enforcement, but approves same technology to catch toll-booth runners. The Virginia Legislature refused to renew the legal authority needed for several Virginia jurisdictions to operate their automated enforcement program to catch red-light runners, forcing localities to end life-saving deterrence at intersections. While complaining about Big Brotherism, many expressed doubt about their effectiveness, but apparently did not have enough doubt to not approve their use for photo enforcement at toll booths.
Several Virginia jurisdictions used photo red technology to deter red-light running at their most dangerous intersections. Doubts about their effectiveness should be gone this year, however, as a new study from Virginia Beach tracked red light running at the intersections since turning the cameras off. Since July 1, red light running is up 99.5 percent at the intersections where the cameras formerly stood guard. AAA and other safety groups will be back again this year arguing to have the systems restarted.
AAA Mid-Atlantic serves 786,000 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a total of 3.6 million members in Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; Delaware; Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined. It provides a wide range of automotive, personal insurance, travel and financial services through its 50-plus retail branches, regional operations centers and the Internet. For more information on AAA Mid-Atlantic, please visit our web site at aaamidatlantic.com.
Praises and Potholes
AAA Mid-Atlantic announces best and worst transportation moves of the year in Virginia.
(1/5/06)
News
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20 Questions
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Sports
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