Inside Nova.com - Break Gridlock on Transportation Bill to Spur Economy

Op-Ed

By Timothy Kaine

Virginia has a bright economic future. But one challenge we haven't addressed is that in five years Virginia will run out of resources for new infrastructure projects. It's no secret transportation funding has been a political lightning rod, but it shouldn't be. Infrastructure and transportation investments are not only critical for our long-term economic success, but they also put folks to work immediately building broadband, repairing bridges, and constructing roads and railways.

One thing is for sure -- if we don't figure out how to overcome the political barriers to a 21st century infrastructure, our economy will suffer. Our companies can attract customers from around the world but it won't matter if we don't have the airports to transport goods. We can continue to pursue business friendly policies, but it will be in vain if we don't have the roads to move products and people at the speed of the global marketplace. And we can continue to develop a talented workforce but we won't reach our full potential if folks sit in gridlocked traffic for hours each day.

Unfortunately, the same anti-investment mentality that has plagued Richmond for years is taking hold in Washington. Since 2009, Congress has been operating on short-term transportation bills that fall short. As a former governor and mayor who oversaw budgets and transportation projects, this is unfathomable. Short-term funding for long-term projects eliminates the ability of contractors and localities to plan, and increases the cost of infrastructure projects because of fits and starts.

Currently, the House and Senate are negotiating a long-term plan but have continued to hit logjams. A long-term transportation bill shouldn't be partisan and has the backing of groups across the spectrum including labor unions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. What is lacking is political will. And at a time when Congress claims to be committed to creating jobs, a transportation bill would create or save more than 3 million jobs across the country, including nearly 40,000 in Virginia.

If our nation is to have the economic future we want, we must send leaders to Washington who are willing to work together to make investments in our crumbling infrastructure. And in order to deliver these projects on time and on budget, we need folks who have a record of working with all sides and all stakeholders to do just that.

Dulles Rail languished on drawing boards for decades until I helped bring a bipartisan group together to find a path forward. By working with state and federal leaders, public and private partners, and administrations of both parties to secure $900 million in federal investment, we got shovels in the ground for Phase I. But while we've made significant progress on this project, we need to keep the pressure on to move forward on Phase II, taking the rail extension all the way to Dulles and into Loudoun County

Results don't come easy and they don't come by working alone. But with more leaders in place who are willing to listen, we'll be better off. We can't afford to have our state and our country sit on the sidelines as China, India, and other nations build up a network of infrastructure around us. It's time for Congress to put aside their partisan concerns and pass a long-term plan that is guaranteed to spur growth in our economy. I've been a reliable voice and vote for infrastructure as a mayor and governor, and I'll continue to be if elected to the U.S. Senate.

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