WHEREAS, passage of this referendum will accelerate the construction of sprawl-inducing highways which will have a negative impact upon the commonwealth and upon the protection of our natural, historic and community resources; and

WHEREAS, several of the projects expand highway capacity into the Piedmont, including a segment of the Western Transportation Corridor identified as "Route 234/659 relocated," and into southern Hampton Roads, including the Southeastern Expressway; and

WHEREAS, in addition the referendum has numerous deficiencies, including:
· No analysis has been offered to show that this project mix will reduce traffic congestion;
· No performance measures, criteria, or incentives for localities to limit land use impacts resulting from expanded capacity have been provided;
· No accounting for the full cost of construction of the listed projects nor identification of additional revenues needed, which will be billions of dollars more than this legislation discloses, has been made - meaning future tax increases;
· No assessment of environmental or other impacts has been made.
· This represents the most irresponsible continuation of VDOT's transportation planning and pattern of investment that has led to the current conditions of sprawl and substantial deficits;
· The transit portion is at best 40% in Northern Virginia (excluding HOV lanes which are increased highway capacity), and is likely to decline over time given the fixed nature of many of the transit projects (e.g. rail cars) vs. the total unknown costs of the highway projects;
· VDOT has had an unprecedented program of building and expanding highways in Northern Virginia since the 1980's with one-half cent from the sales tax and other funds, yet congestion has gotten worse because the accompanying sprawl development has led to an increase in vehicle miles traveled at seven times the rate of population growth;
· The funds will be directed to a new Regional Transportation Authority in Northern Virginia and by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission in Hampton Roads which at best will duplicate the existing regional transportation decision-making body and at worst will be less accountable to the public and set its own priorities;
· This puts transportation spending for new projects in two regions of the state ahead of other state needs when transportation, education, health care and other services are being cut.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Director be, and she hereby is, authorized to takes such steps to oppose the transportation sales tax referendum as she deem appropriate consistent with the funding resources of the organization and in consultation from time to time with the President, Chairman, or the Executive Committee concerning the expenditure of funds.

# # #