For Immediate Release:

February 4, 2011

 Contact:  Elise Marsh

                 804-698-1034

Delegate Comstock Votes For Passage Of

$4B Transportation Plan 

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Barbara Comstock released the following statement upon the passage of House Bill 2527 (65-33), the Governor’s Transportation Plan:

“For the first time in over twenty years, we are succeeding with a major transportation bill that will provide over $4 billion in much needed transportation infrastructure funding over the next three years without raising taxes.  Our bipartisan vote on the bill today combines with the broad support of over 50 major business and transportation groups, including the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.  

This multi-faceted transportation package, which is the single largest infusion of funding in decades, will begin the process of much needed congestion relief in Northern Virginia and fund over 900 projects across the Commonwealth and put thousands of Virginians to work.  For every $100 million spent on highway construction, 3000 jobs are estimated to be created or supported.                                 

This bill also incorporated my bill H.B. 2203, which removes the priority structure for allocation of revenue-sharing funds to localities.  I sponsored this measure on behalf of Fairfax County, and I am pleased the Governor and Speaker incorporated this into the package.  The existing priority system resulted in Fairfax County getting no revenue sharing funds.  Now, we will be eligible again on an equal footing with other localities for revenue sharing funds.  

To learn more about our major transportation initiative, read the Governor’s press release: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=592

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