Official Press Release From NVTA Regarding Today’s Court Ruling

As many of you know, the VA Supreme Court today ruled that the taxing powers given to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) were unconstitutional. Well, here is the official press release from the NVTA on the matter:

For Immediate Release
February 29, 2008

Contact:  Kala Quintana       

VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT SENDS TRANSPORTATION TAXES AND FEES BACK TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 
OVER $1BILLION IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN JEOPARDY
IF GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAILS TO ACT

NORTHERN VIRGINIA – Today, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the General Assembly violated the constitution when it delegated the power to collect the seven taxes and fees under the Transportation Funding and Reform Act of 2007 (HB3202). As a result, Northern Virginia faces the loss of more than $300 million in annual revenue that was the centerpiece of the landmark 2007 transportation legislation.

The Authority urges Governor Kaine and General Assembly leaders to act immediately to replace the funding stream.  Failure to act will result in a loss of over $1 billion in potential transportation revenue for the region including dedicated funding for Metro.  In addition, scores of transportation projects will be sidelined and the regional transportation crisis will continue unabated, affecting the region’s economy, and environment, as well as the quality of life for all Northern Virginians.   
                                          
“It is critical that the General Assembly act expeditiously to address this problem so that the vital transportation solutions we are prepared to implement are not delayed any further,” said Chris Zimmerman (Arlington), Chairman of the Authority. 

Authority member, David Snyder (Falls Church) stated, "This surprising decision threatens to undue all the hard work of the public, businesses, the governor, legislature and local officials to provide the funding to solve Northern Virginia’s transportation crisis.  In overturning the legislated fees and taxes, the court’s decision throws out more than a decade of effort and jeopardizes hundreds of millions of dollars of urgently needed transit and road improvements.  It is critical that the General Assembly and Governor move immediately to restore the transportation funding.  The solutions to the problems created by the court’s decision are readily at hand."

Marty Nohe (Prince William) stated, "While we are all disappointed with this setback, I am optimistic that the General Assembly will respond quickly with legislation that will allow us to allow us to continue our work without further interruption.  Time is of the essence.  If the General Assembly treats this like the emergency that it is, the Authority will be able to move forward with delivering the meaningful transportation solutions that the public expects.  If we lose momentum however, all of last year’s accomplishments will be lost and our citizens will continue to sit in traffic."

Among the projects in jeopardy are:

• $50 million annually in dedicated funding for Metro capital improvements
• $25 million annually in dedicated funding for the Virginia Railway Express
• Improvements to the Fairfax County Parkway, the Prince William County Parkway, and Battlefield Parkway
• The Crystal City – Potomac Yards and the Columbia Pike Transitway Projects
• Improvements to address impacts of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) recommendations
• Route 1 highway and transit improvement in Prince William County and Fairfax County
• Route 7 Improvements in Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church
• Route 28 Improvements in Loudoun County and Manassas
• Improvements to the King Street, West Falls Church, Huntington and Vienna Metrorail Stations
• Transit buses to allow for expanded transit service is various parts of Northern Virginia
• Route 123 improvements in the City of Fairfax
• Improvements to Manassas Drive in the City of Manassas Park

The seven regional taxes and fees are:

• 2% Transient Occupancy Tax
• Grantor’s Tax of 40 Cents per $100 of valuation
• 2% Tax on Vehicle Rentals
• Safety Inspection Fee of $10
• Initial Vehicle Registration Fee of 1%
• 5% Sales Tax on Auto Repair
• Regional Vehicle Registration Fee of $10

For more information, contact the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority by going to www.TheNoVaAuthority.org.

## NVTA ##

Kala L. Quintana
Director of Public Outreach, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission
Interim Public Information Officer, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority