Presentation Transcript

1. HB 2313 Transportation Funding—Projects and Priorities

   Society of American Military Engineers Northern Virginia Post May 1, 2014 Tom Biesiadny, Director Fairfax County Department of Transportation
2. Summary of HB 2313
3. Summary of HB 2313 Approved by the General Assembly in April 2013. Includes several components Statewide Increased funding for highway construction Increased funding for highway maintenance Increased funding for transit (operating and capital) Provided dedicated funding for intercity rail service Regional Funding for regional projects Funding for local projects
4. Statewide Component Eliminates the 17.5 cents per gallon gas tax. Imposes a 3.5% wholesale gas tax and a 6% wholesale diesel tax. Increases automobile sales tax from 3% to 4.15%, over three years. Increases state sales tax from 5% to 5.3%. Transfers an additional .175% (from .5% to .675%) of the state’s portion of existing sales tax from the General Fund to transportation, phased in over five years. Increases the fee for alternative fuel vehicles to $64, including electric and hybrid vehicles, but excluding natural gas-powered vehicles.
5. Statewide Component Continued Dedicates potential federal revenues that would become available if Congress enacts the Marketplace Equity Act (grants states legal authority to collect out-of-state sales taxes). If Congress does not pass the Act by January 1, 2015, the wholesale gas tax (not diesel) increases to 5.1%. Prohibits tolling on I-95 south of Fredericksburg without prior General Assembly approval. Allocates $300 million from the state maintenance funding, or other available revenue sources, to Dulles Rail Phase II over three years.
6. Regional Component Imposes a .7% sales tax, to a total of 6% for Northern Virginia. Imposes a 2% Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax). Imposing a regional congestion fee (grantors tax) of $0.15 per $100 valuation. 70% will be provided to NVTA for: regional projects included TransAction 2040 or future updates that have also been evaluated by VDOT for reducing congestion, or mass transit capital projects that increase capacity. 30% of funds will be distributed to localities.
7. Regional Component (Continued) Localities must enact a Commercial and Industrial Property (C&I) or dedicate an equivalent amount for transportation Requires NVTA and its member jurisdictions to work with the towns when implementing these provisions to ensure that towns receive their respective share of transportation project revenues. Annual Revenues = ~$300 million. $210 million (regional) ~ $105 million for Fairfax County $ 90 million (local) ~ $45 million for Fairfax County
8. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA)
9. What is the NVTA? The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) was created in 2002 to provide Northern Virginia communities with a regional organization responsible for: Developing a long range transportation plan, Supporting initiatives and TDM programs aimed at improving air quality and relieving congestion, and Advocating for transportation needs before State and Federal Governments.
10. NVTA Background The counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William. The cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Membership One elected official from each of those jurisdictions Two members of the House of Delegates One State Senator Two citizen members appointed by the Governor including one member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board One non-voting member rotated among several towns in Planning District 8 The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner’s designee (ex-officio) The Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) (ex-officio)
11. NVTA Decisions A quorum requires a majority of the Authority, including at least a majority of the representatives of the counties and cities embraced by the Authority. NVTA typically reaches decisions via consensus. Decisions of the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of: Two-thirds of the members of the Authority present and voting; and Two-thirds of the representatives of the counties and cities embraced by the Authority who are present and voting and whose counties and cities include at least Two-thirds of the population embraced by the Authority.
12. NVTA Staffing NVTA has been staffed through borrowed staff from its members jurisdictions and agencies. NVTA is not expected to hire a large staff. A small number of staff may be hired to manage NVTA’s funds, track and distribute revenues, and undertake planning and reporting activities. Four hired so far. Project implementation will largely be undertaken by NVTA’s member jurisdictions and agencies.

13. Fairfax County Efforts to Prioritize Unfunded Projects(Countywide Dialogue on Transportation)

14. Evaluate unfunded projects based on multiple selection criteria Utilize all available revenue sources to meet the needs of these projects, including new HB 2313 revenues Obtain public input on project selection Assist the Board of Supervisors in selecting transportation priorities through FY 2020

    Purpose

15. Funding Outlook

    Staff has considered all available revenue sources for FY2014-FY2020. Revenues committed to projects in the Board’s Four-Year Plan (FY2013-FY2016) have been excluded from discussion. Total revised estimate of funding available through FY2020 is approximately $1.4 billion which assumes the receipt of USDOT loan (TIFIA) for Dulles Rail Phase II and no debt service until FY2024. The $1.4 billion reflects a recalculation of total available revenues since the beginning of the outreach effort.
16. Potential Projects FCDOT staff prepared a list of 214 potential projects Multi-modal approach Roadways Interchanges Extensions Spot Improvements Widenings Transit Park-and-Ride Lots Other Facilities Bus Service Bicycle Pedestrian
17. Snapshot of Public Outreach On-line survey conducted from 10/25/13 to 11/22/13 2,554 survey responses 5 public meetings, 15 additional presentations 206 attendees (not including elected officials and staff) at the 5 public meetings 155+ attendees at the 15 additional presentations
18. Other Outreach Countywide Dialogue on Transportation web site contained: Interactive map, project descriptions, and link for feedback. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/ “Ask Fairfax” live, online Q&A on Tuesday, Nov. 12 News Releases sent to: Media, elected officials, stakeholders (TAC/Advisory group, EDA, TMAs, NVTA, Chambers, county agencies, etc.) Board Members’ email subscribers, HOAs Reporter requests, media coverage WTOP, NBC, Washington Post, Patch, Connection, Washington Business Journal
19. Recap of Criteria for Project Selection(Not in Priority Order) Congestion Reduction* Economically Disadvantaged Populations Mode Balance Safety Travel Time Savings* Community Input School and Park Access Regional Consideration (included in NVTA TransAction 2040) Countywide Balance Disabled/Elderly Populations Economic Development (support for revitalization areas and major Activity Centers) Healthy Communities Initiative Air Quality* *Included in the Cost Benefit Analysis
20. Project Selection Factors - Roadways Focuses on known areas of high congestion. Compliments other funded or recently completed projects. Completes improvements over a significant length of corridor. Compliments funding already secured for some projects. Fills “gaps” in the network. Other factors included on previous slide. Allocated funds for design of future projects. Set aside for Fairfax County Parkway.
21. Project Selection Factors - Transit All projects were recommended in the 2009 Transit Development Plan. Projects either provide new links between residential areas and activity centers and/or transit hubs, or enhance service on existing links. All projects were evaluated using the Cost Benefit tool, and other factors. Set aside funding for implementing results of major transit studies, Metro 2025, and VRE Capital.
22. Project Selection Factors – Bike and Pedestrian Neighborhood connectivity Connection to transit (Metrorail, bus service, VRE, park & ride) Park connectivity Identified on Bicycle Master Plan School walking route Completing missing links/completing the network Historic long standing community request Other factors previously listed.

23. Summary of Proposed Six-Year Funding

24. Staff Proposed Funding for Currently Unfunded Projects

    *Many of these transportation projects include facilities for bicycle and pedestrian needs.
25. Proposing $199 million in transit reserve Future needs may include capital and operating costs, including: Metro 2025 (Momentum), Virginia Railway Express, Fairfax Connector, Implementation of the Richmond Highway and Route 7 Alternatives Analyses, and Implementation of the Countywide Transit Network Study. Proposing $55 million in reserve for study/design/construction of Fairfax County Parkway Improvements, following completion of corridor study. Proposing $7.7 million in reserve for bicycle and pedestrian projects Needed to further study new project requests as a result of the outreach effort.

    Reserves

26. Preparing for the Increased Workload

    FCDOT staff have been discussing ways to improve project delivery. Meetings have included other agencies, such as VDOT and DPWES. Some ideas can be addressed in the short-term, and many are already underway. Others involve longer-term coordination, sometimes with other agencies such as VDOT and DPWES. Three main improvement themes have been discussed: Improve project budgeting and scheduling Identify project issues early Expand County expertise Improve internal/external communication and build teamwork Alternative delivery methods
27. Additional Activities December-January: Board review of staff’s proposed projects for funding. January 14: Proposed deadline for feedback from the Board on the recommended list of projects. January 28: Staff returned to the Board with revisions, based on feedback received; Board endorsed a revised list of project priorities. Board consideration of agreement with NVTAfor local portion of regional funding. May 6: Staff will return to the Board with draft project timelines for the projects priorities approved on January 28
28. Projects Near Fort Belvoir I-95 to Fairfax County Parkway – Northbound Flyover Widen Richmond Highway from Mt. Vernon Highway north to Napper Road (4 to 6 lanes) Widen Richmond Highway from Occoquan River to Armistead (4 to 6 lanes) – preliminary engineering only Widen Pohick Road from Richmond Highway to I-95 (2 to 4 lanes) Intersection improvements on Fairfax County Parkway (I-95 to Telegraph Road) Enhanced bus service in the South County area. New bus service on the Fairfax County Parkway Fairfax County Parkway and Transit Reserves
29. Questions?