Transportation tough topic to tackle

by Samuel H. Kirby Jr.,
President
American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia
Richmond
for Virginia Business
February 2006

Dear Editor:

The confetti was barely off the floor from Tim Kaine’s election celebrations before he went “on the road” to talk to people about Virginia’s “most urgent issue” – transportation. He carried his message of concern on this topic to every corner of Virginia. His initiative is applauded.

But providing an adequate response to the state of the state’s transportation infrastructure is proving to be more difficult in the “doing” than in the “discussing,” given the fact that the same topic drew a lot of attention before the 2005 session of the General Assembly. Few leaders have been willing to follow through with the tough decisions that will move Virginia forward in this critical area for what are the arteries of the commonwealth’s economic life blood.

In the recent past, Virginians continued to engage in the debate on transportation while the price tag continued to go up. …Conditions have grown worse while we have stood by politely putting the issues to microscopic examination.

In this case, doing nothing is much worse than doing something, however imperfect that may be. There are many projects already on the books that have been planned for years but have been delayed…due to juggling budget priorities. These are projects where the debate, essentially, is over. …The real priority is funding and, it is the issue that must be addressed without fail.

Our organization’s membership is made up of the people who design the commonwealth’s port-rail-air-ground transportation infrastructure. …We encourage every Virginian to find out how investment today in transportation will yield benefits well into the future in both public safety and economic security.

Please let Mr. Kaine and your representatives in the General Assembly know that you believe in Virginia’s future and support what must be done to get us there. Now is indeed the time for all to lead Virginia forward.