“Many of the very developers and business leaders pushing this tax are the same ones who created our transportation problems, either by leapfrogging out into the countryside or by building developments that force everyone to drive, and to drive long distances for every trip. Their influence has played a key role in the failure of growth management legislation, impact fees and adequate public facilities requirements at the General Assembly.” - Chris Miller, Piedmont Environmental Council

Addressing the problem of traffic congestion in Virginia will require a comprehensive approach to land use and transportation and a new partnership between state and local government. An approach that increases transportation choices and links land use to transportation in a way that reduces the amount that people have to drive will do more to reduce congestion than simply building more highways.

While developing better land use is a local matter, it can be supported by the right state incentives. Similarly, while local governments play the key role in identifying and increasing transit, bicycle and pedestrian services, they cannot do so without a shift in funding priorities by the state. State policy changes that can support a comprehensive approach to Virginia's traffic problem fall into four main categories:

Grow in the Right Places

Create More Walkable Neighborhoods

Link Transit and Our Communities

Protect Parks and Open Spaces

Grow in the Right Places

1. Fix it First. Ensure that all state transportation maintenance needs are met and direct funding to fixing problems on existing roads and transit prior to funding new construction.

• Example: Improve existing highways such as Route 28 by providing grade separated interchanges in place of traffic lights and improve I-66 ramps to the Beltway.

2. Focus State Investments. Direct state investment to towns, cities and areas of contiguous development where public infrastructure is already in place.

• Example: Increase funding for state brownfields redevelopment, Governor's Opportunity Fund, Regional Competitiveness program, Enterprise Zone Program, and the Main Street Program and direct to towns, cities and areas of contiguous development where public infrastructure is in place.
• Example: School funding should fairly support the repair, maintenance and technology upgrade of existing schools.
• Example: Adopt "Smart Building Code" that reduces obstacles to rehabilitation of property in urban areas. Authorize cities to use split rate property tax to spark revitalization.

3. Improve Trend Analysis. Support legislation to improve local and state trend analysis and planning.

• Example: The state should analyze long term development trends, including total land planned and zoned for development, to better assess taxpayer costs and existing availability of developable land already zoned.
• Example: State funding and technical assistance can support local buildout analyses, water supply studies, and creation of more affordable comprehensive plans where development consumes less open space.

Link Transit and Our Communities

4. Focus Development at Rail Stations. State incentives and funding should ensure that local governments focus development at transit, commuter rail, and Amtrak stations.

• Example: Shift some of the state's share of Federal Surface Transportation Program funding to pay for the cost of parking structures that allow room for both commuters and development close to the stations.
• Example: Provide state funding for community design and planning.

5. Equal Funding for Transit. Change state funding formulas to ensure the state pays an equal percentage share for transit as it does for highways.

• Background: Currently the state pays a far greater share of construction, operations and maintenance for highways than it does for transit.

6. State Transit Tax Credits. State transit tax credits can be adopted to supplement the Federal program, which provides a $100 per month benefit.

• Example: Maryland adopted a $30 per month benefit.

7. Shift Funding from Highways to Transit. Redirect existing highway funding to support and fund key rail transit expansion in the areas with both the most jobs and the most congestion, including:

• Invest in High speed rail between Washington, DC and Richmond.
• Expedite rail from West Falls Church to Tyson's Corner in Northern Virginia.

Create More Walkable Neighborhoods

8. Fund Pedestrian and Bicycle Needs. Redirect state transportation funds to bicycle and pedestrian facilities, traffic calming, establishing safer routes to school, and to secondary roads and neighborhood streets.


Protect Parks and Open Spaces

9. Fund Public Land Protection. Support state funding for land conservation including fee purchase and purchase of development rights programs. Land conserved reduces long-term public infrastructure costs and traffic.

• Example: Funding can support land protection in rural areas, while also being used to increase parkland in existing developed areas.

10. Support Voluntary Land Protection. Fully fund and expand Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the voluntary donation of conservation easements.

• Background: Record donations of conservation easements are being made by private donors, but the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, a state agency, lacks the staff and funding to process and accept these easements for permanent state protection.