Virginia's road-building process is flawed, new study contends

See the article from the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.

The basic problem is lack of public oversight, as these projects are greenlighted by the Governor's Office.

And the Governor serves for one term only (although former Governors can run again and serve nonconsecutively, now US Senator Mark Warner just decided not to do this).

So the projects, like the High Occupancy Toll Lanes* recently launched in Northern Virginia ("Virginia has high hopes for HOT lanes on the Beltway" from the Washington Times) or the plan to build a new expressway tunnel in Hampton Roads funded by tolls ("Va. officials moving forward with tunnel tolls project" from the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) can be very ideological.

The report, An Analysis of the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995, is published by the Southern Environmental Law Center. (press release)

Left: the Metro Expresslanes promotional campaign in Los Angeles included heavy duty outreach, including participation at street festivals, etc., and the sales of EZPass transponders from the van and in other public places.

* The opening in the last couple weeks of HOT lanes in Northern Virginia and Greater Los Angeles is another item on my long list of topics that I intend to write about.  The big problem is that HOT lanes promote "solo" driving at the expense of carpooling and transit.  State transportation departments are okay with this because of the revenue.  Local authorities concerned with promoting less traffic and more sustainable transportation modes, like Arlington County ("County Emerges Victorious As State Gives Up HOT Lanes" from the Arlington Now blog) are not so enamored.  Although I will say I have been impressed with the pre-opening promotional activities in LA.