We don't enjoy wallowing over desperately ironic turns of events in the Metro region here at Transit on Thursday. OK, that's a lie. But we do sympathize with the folks who it turns out may have gotten duped by the Great Virginia Commuter Compromise of 2006-2007.

Also this week, new lanes approved for the Beltway, 95, and 66, while Maryland comes up a little short on its own transportation funds.

Photo by el swifterino

Long Fought Bill Comes Up Short
They thought it was over. Two years of acrimonious debate, competing facts, and political attacks had somehow magically transformed into the biggest transportation funding increase gridlocked Virginia had seen in decades. The bill dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars to Northern Virginia, with its especially tough traffic problem. NoVa legislators had visions of happily commuting constituents dancing in their heads, while residents imagined all the ways the region might spend its newfound riches.

Not more than a month and a half has passed, however, and already the largesse has somehow become a shortfall. It turns out that neglected road maintenance costs could significantly limit any money available for new construction in our western neighbor. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority estimates about $664 million a year will be needed in roadway, rail and other improvements through 2030, but the transportation bill only provides about $600 million. After Metro and VRE take their pieces of the pie, that number is even smaller -- about $320 million. What's worse, some, such as Annandale Delegate Vivian Watts, who's also a former state transportation secretary, put the shortfall closer to $1 billion a year when the entire backlog of maintenance and rehabilitation is considered.

It's hard to say whether the Northern Virginia Delegates who voted for the transportation bill knew it wasn't a full solution or not. The numbers are pretty clear, so did they vote yes because they knew it was the best deal they could get, or did they just not read the fine print? Either way, we don't envy them, or NoVa commuters for that matter.

Loosening Our Belt(way)
It's not all the gloom and doom of shortfalls in the area though. After months of safety review and public opposition, regional transportation officials approved two major highway projects that will expand both the Beltway and I-66.

On the Beltway and 95, two carpool lanes from the 14th Street Bridge into Stafford County would be converted into three High-Occupancy Toll lanes, or HOT lanes, by 2010. Currently all the rage among transportation planners, studies have estimated that the tolls on area HOT lanes, which would vary based on traffic volume, could reach more than $1 per mile during peak travel times, though carpools of three or more and buses would be able to use the lanes free. Virginia officials also plan to ask the companies that will build and run the toll lanes for $390 million for new bus service, 3,000 park-and-ride spaces, and road improvements to eliminate bottlenecks. Many municipal officials, local advocates and planners, including those representing the District, opposed the idea. They claimed it would create "Lexus Lanes" that would be unaffordable to many, and could draw more affluent people off transit and into their cars with the promise of a traffic-free ride.

On I-66, plans were approved to widen the westbound side of the highway in Arlington County. With construction starting in 2010, the I-66 project would increase the width of the road from two to three lanes beginning at Fairfax Drive in Arlington, and expand it from three lanes to four between Washington Boulevard and the Dulles Airport Access Road. The project was opposed by many Arlington residents, local advocates, and municipal leaders, who fear that expanding I-66 would merely bring more traffic and pollution to a community trying hard to implement Smart Growth-style development. They also pointed out that alternatives to widening were not considered, and that the initial construction of I-66 was based on a promise to Arlington officials in 1982 to limit the road to four lanes. Considering the funding shortfalls for new construction described above, however, they might have less to worry about than they think.

Maryland Needs Money, Too
Not to be left out of the transportation funding fun, Maryland is also finding itself in the hole for money for new construction. Transit supporters have long pointed out the there is not enough money to go around after the Intercounty Connector is bought and paid for. To meet Maryland's transportation needs, which include the Purple Line Metro extension between Bethesda and New Carrollton, and the Corridor Cities Transitway up the I-270 corridor, an additional $400 to $600 million will be needed, according to state officials. Gov. O'Malley is considering a range of options to close the funding gap, including taking a portion of corporate and personal income taxes for transportation projects. He also invoked The Revenue Source That Shall Not Be Named (by pols at least), when he called Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett's push for a gas tax "courageous." Like most states, Maryland's gas tax has not been raised in years, while inflation has reduced its relative value. Republicans in the legislature said it would be a horrible idea to raise the fee when gas prices are so high. Maybe O'Malley thinks that with prices jumping all over the place each week, no one will much notice.