Forward Virginia

Selling out

Among the proposals that have been put forward for solving Virginia's transportation funding problem has been privatizing our road system. For some arteries like the Dulles Toll Road, which is already connected to the privately owned Dulles Greenway, this makes a certain amount of sense. For others, like the existing HOV lanes on Interstate 395 between Woodbridge and the 14th Street Bridge, it constitutes a selling out of Virginia taxpayer money.

If Virginia is going to turn to the private sector to manage its roadways, we need to make sure we're not going to get the short end of the bargain. Companies so far have promised road improvements in exchange for control of roadways, but we've seen nothing yet about what kind of pricing will be in place. This Washington Post article citing Kaine's transportation choices moving forward, for example, describes the HOT (High-Occupancy Toll) lane option as "expensive," but we don't know much more than that.

What is appalling is that the proposal to privatize the existing HOV lanes on I-395 and 95 would mean that taxpayers who paid to have that stretch of road built will have to start paying a toll on that portion of roadway even when it's not rush hour. And during rush hour, they'll pay more. While those lanes are restricted to buses and carpools during rush hour, they are free to use at any other time.

The reasoning behind privatizing the I-95/395 HOV lanes is that the private developer will pay to extend them to Fredericksburg, a plan that has been on the books for some time now but lacks the needed funding. Fine. But given that a significant portion most of the way to Fredericksburg has already been built by taxpayer dollars, we need to make sure the road stays in taxpayer hands.

As for the Dulles Toll Road, privatization might make sense if the money can help fund the Dulles Metrorail project, since encouraging transit use is a good way to help reduce traffic. But we need to make sure that the prices on that portion of the toll road don't skyrocket to the levels currently seen on the privately owned Dulles Greenway -- while the Dulles tolls range from 50-75 cents, trips on the Greenway cost at least twice as much (perhaps the Greenway got its name from the amount of money they charge to use it).

For all that politicians rail against tax increases (even Kaine has pledged not to raise the gas tax), it seems making people pay prohibitive prices to use what were once public roads may not be such an appealing option either. But then again, maybe high prices for roadway use might push people to support transit instead.

posted by Omar @ 7:38 AM