Sierra Club Suggests a New Direction for Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board

Statement to the Commonwealth Transportation Board

Public Hearing, Fairfax, Virginia

I am speaking for the over 15,000 members of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club for whom the quality of our air, water, land and wildlife are considered of utmost importance.  We believe it is the responsibility of citizens to protect these aspects of the earth and the Commonwealth.  Transportation policy can have a profound effect on the environment, either directly or indirectly, so we have an important stake in the Six-Year Improvement Program.

Northern Virginia is an urbanizing community. But most Northern Virginians lack easy access to other transportation options besides driving. The lack of alternatives is what’s choking our road network with traffic. A shift in just a few percentage points from driving to walking, bicycling and transit can significantly relieve traffic congestion. It is also critical that there be state support for local land use policies that will be compatible with the alternative travel modes.  This is where federal transportation policy is heading.     The federal government’s commitment to putting walking and bicycling on an equal playing field with auto, and the Sustainable Communities program integrating transportation and land use, are signals that states and localities that plan for all transportation modes will be the most competitive in getting federal transportation dollars.  Furthermore, there are overarching needs to address our dependence on oil and climate change.   Virginia must position itself to fit in with, and take advantage of this newer approach to transportation issues.

In general, this will mean development of new types of infrastructure so that our citizens and our economy will be able to adapt to a variety of new options.  Virginia’s urban regions in particular need to be able to do this so as to begin a migration away from total dependence on the automobile.  We desperately need more transit of many types, from high-speed rail, to commuter and light rail, bus systems including Bus Rapid Transit and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  More of our freight should be shifted to rail.  We do not need to exclude roads, but they need to compete with these other options on a broad basis according to more relevant criteria (as with federal grants).

These types of non-auto projects are less familiar to many local governments, their staffs and citizens, such that a transition may take a bit more time.  The CTB should use this period of reduced revenue to enhance planning for a new transportation future.  Planning can be done on a low budget with existing staff, and there is time to engage the public  in a meaningful way.  The Virginia 2035 Plan lays out many good objectives, but without greater adoption at the local government levels it will not be implemented.

Please use this time to plan a better transportation future for Virginia.