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Please VOTE "NO" on the Northern Virginia Sales Tax Increase.
1. DEVELOPERS, NOT COMMUTERS, STAND TO BENEFIT IF THE TAX HIKE PASSES.
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 Developers Have Paid $1.2 Million* for Taxpayers' ½¢
Real Estate/Construction Contributions Exceed all other Funding Sources Combined.
*Contributions data for Citizens for Better Transportation through October 23, 2002, for reports filed on October 28, 2002 with the Virginia Public Access Project. Amounts on election day may be higher.
Source: www.vpap.org
 Fueling Sprawl at Taxpayers' Expense
Developers lead the list of campaign donors supporting the sales tax increase and stand to reap the benefits if it passes. Here's why: an analysis of property held within just 5 miles of proposed "improvements" -- two new outer beltways -- in Loudoun and Prince William Counties revealed that over 65,000 acres are already assembled for development. These new highways are tied to a simple model for development that some sectors of the development industry seek to maintain-buy farmland, win rezonings, and get taxpayers to
provide infrastructure.
Vote "NO" Says Post's Marc Fisher
"...the most telling difference between the two sides is this fact: More than half of the money that is pouring into the Yes campaign comes from real estate and construction businesses - developers... that profit from sprawl."
- Washington Post, October 29, 2002
 2. IT WILL INCREASE SPRAWL AND MAKE TRAFFIC WORSE.
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Studies Show This Approach Won't Work
There has been no analysis to see if the projects will reduce traffic congestion. The sales tax referendum language short circuits the normal safeguards that require VDOT to demonstrate the benefits of road projects. In fact, one VDOT study showed that new north-south highways, such as the two west of Dulles Airport included in the tax referendum, would actually worsen congestion on adjoining roads. "The nonprofit Surface Transportation Policy Project analyzed data for 70 metropolitan areas over 15 years and found that regions that invested heavily in new road capacity ended up with no less traffic than areas that stuck with the status quo." Capacity without planning cannot work.
- Washington Post, October 19, 2002
Adding Capacity Can Actually Make Traffic Worse
"Civil engineers have spent 20 years developing computer models showing that this phenomenon -- known as 'induced traffic' or 'Braess' Paradox' -- really exists, and suggesting that it renders much road building counterproductive. 'Adding road capacity generates traffic,' reports Mark Hansen, a University of California engineer who studies what happens after you add lanes."
- Washington Post, October 19, 2002
Guaranteed Sprawl That Will Choke New Road Capacity
"If Northern Virginia voters approve the transportation sales tax increase on the ballot Nov. 5, the old Loudoun County road and other rural byways in Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties will be replaced by four-lane divided parkways designed to accommodate speeds up to 60 mph -- connections that would make it easier, some landowners hope, to market the adjoining fields as the region's newest subdivisions."
- Washington Post, October 18, 2002
3. REAL TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS ARE SHORT CHANGED.
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Transit Receives Too Little And There Is No Guarantee
Transit earmarks equal just 23% of the possible $5 billion raised. Only 5% is allocated to Metro's urgent maintenance and rail car needs. Metro needs $6.2 billion for these needs but the sales tax allocates only $250 million over 20 years, just $12.5 million per year. There is no legal guarantee that transit will continue to receive its share of the sales tax revenue.
Smarter Growth Must Come First
The Blueprint for a Better Region provides a realistic, achievable plan for both transportation & livable communities, one that is not contingent on major new infrastructure, and that has been endorsed by local leaders. Visit www.BetterRegion.org for more information.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Because there are few contested races on the ballot this year, turnout is expected to be light and EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT. Please pass this information on to your family, friends and neighbors.
Find your polling place:
http://www.sbe.state.va.us/VotReg/Polling_Place/Polling_Place_Lookup_request.htm
VOTE NO ON THE SALES TAX INCREASE.
It's special interest politics as usual.
http://www.nosprawltax.org/
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