What's Hot

Bill to Change Cost of Competing Could Reduce School Funding

Link

(Updated January 2012)

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 2012 Policy Position

EMINENT DOMAIN 

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce (DRCC) specifically supports responsible use of eminent domain authority in instances when the rights of property owners are fairly balanced with the rights of entities with existing eminent domain authority; however, DRCC strongly opposes efforts to amend the Virginia Constitution with regard to the issue of eminent domain or definition of public use, given these issues are clearly addressed and defined in the Virginia statute.

(Updated January 2012)

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Governor McDonnell Unveils 2013 - 2014 Budget

Link

(Updated December 2011)

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Phase 3 Work Begins on Route 7 Eastbound June 12th

     
Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the new Route 7 eastbound bridge over the Capital Beltway on or about June 12.  Fluor-Lane will then begin work on the center section of the old bridge.  Crews will begin removing the old center section during overnight hours.  This work will take several weeks to complete.  Once the old span is removed construction will begin on the final section of the new Route 7 span over I-495.

(Updated June 2011)

 
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GOOD NEWS FOR TRANSPORTATION

It wasn’t quick. It wasn’t easy. And for some time the outcome was in doubt.

However, at the end of a very long day, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) voted to establish a new Northern Virginia North-South Corridor of Statewide Significance (CoSS).

This is the first time in over a decade that the Commonwealth has acknowledged the need for a new multi-modal transportation corridor in Northern Virginia. Previously, CoSS designation had been awarded only to existing corridors.

This is indeed an important historic step. By itself it does not guarantee a Bi-County or Tri-County Parkway or any other specific multi-modal improvement. Only our continued persistence can do that. However, it does place an important state imprimatur on it and makes certain that this long-neglected corridor is neglected no more.

(Updated May 2011)

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The Chamber’s Economic Development Committee recently had a presentation from Rail to Dulles Director Patty Nicoson.  Discussion then followed on the current perils facing the Rail to Dulles project.  Items to note included the following.

• The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is threatening to renege on the Rail to Dulles Project if costs don’t go down.
• Congressman Wolf and several chambers, including ours, have sent letters to MWAA’s Chairman expressing disappointment with MWAA’s decision to elect the costlier below-ground station option at the Airport.
• Congressman Wolf has proposed legislation to add five Virginia members to the MWAA Board and give local governments a say in the selection of those members.
• Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood recently cited the Rail to Dulles Project as the #1 transportation project in the nation.
• There is $1.7 Billion of Federal monies involving a TIFEA bond that might be applied to this project.   This would significantly reduce the burden on toll road commuters.
• The price of labor for Phase 2 will be the same as Phase 1.  MWAA’s decision to use the PLA (union labor) process will not raise costs and will allow the quality work done on Phase 1.
• Parking at the Loudoun stations could be private.
• MWAA should seek other funding sources.
• The funding of other roads not directly related to the toll road should not be funded with toll road money.
• New mechanisms such as peak pricing and distance tolling are being considered.

(Updated May 2011)

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On April 13th Learn Why Federal Transportation Funding Reauthorization

and 2010 Census Results Really Matter for Northern Virginia.

Virginia is far more dependent upon federal transportation dollars than most states and the 2010 census offers real insight into how people travel and where future dollars should be spent.

Federal funding reauthorization has been in limbo for two years. When and for what purposes funds are reauthorized will have a major impact on Virginia's transportation program. So too will the extent to which future transportation funds are focused in areas with the greatest needs.
 
Noted transportation expert and Commuting in America series author Alan Pisarski will address and take questions on these topics on April 13th.
 
This is a must attend event for those concerned about the wise investment of our ransportation dollars.

What:     Future Federal Transportation Policy and Travel Trends

When:    April 13, 2011 - 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
                7:30 a.m. - Registration
                8:00 a.m. - Breakfast
                8:30 a.m. - Program begins

Where:   Waterford at Fair Oaks
              12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway
               Fairfax, Virginia  22033

For more information call: 703-883-1830; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Updated April 2011)

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Fairfax County Board Votes 8 - 2 to

Extend Trash Incinerator Service Agreement

Business Coalition in Opposition to Purchase Praises Decision

This afternoon the Board of Supervisors voted 8 - 2 to extend the service agreement with Covanta Fairfax, Inc. rather than purchase the I-95 Waste-to-Energy plant. The Dulles Regional Chamber and other members of the business community defended this public-private partnership in opposition to the county borrowing and spending $417.5 million plus about $400 million in interest to buy the facility. The business coalition represented more than 2,400 businesses with more than 200,000 employees in Fairfax County

The Coalition's evaluation concurred with County staff's conclusion that it was more cost effective for the County to extend the service agreement for at least the next 17 years than it was for the County to borrow and spend millions to buy the facility.

Today's decision is a great victory to promoting and sustaining public private partnerships.  The business community praises the efforts of all those who have negotiated this great deal for the citizens and businesses of Fairfax County.  We thank the Board of Supervisors for bringing forward a good business decision.

(Updated March 2011)

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Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

Governor Directs State Agencies to Implement E-Verify Check of Immigration Status for New Hires 18 Months Ahead of Schedule
~ Order Accelerates Implementation from December 2012 to June 2011~

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell officially ordered today that all executive branch state agencies implement the E-Verify system to verify employment eligibility based upon immigration status for all new hires by June 1, 2011, a full 18 months ahead of the legislated deadline of Dec. 1, 2012.

The 2010 General Assembly passed legislation (HB737) requiring all state agencies to use E-Verify, an Internet-based system that allows an employer to determine the eligibility of an employee to work in the United States. The E-Verify system is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration.

“Federal law rightly requires that companies and governments only employ individuals who may legally work in this country — either U.S. citizens or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization.” Governor McDonnell said. “My administration has focused on enforcing the nation’s immigration laws to ensure that all of those working in Virginia’s public and private sectors are legally eligible to do so. The General Assembly passed legislation last year instructing our state agencies to use this federal resource to check employment eligibility based upon immigration status, and I felt strongly that we should implement this policy as quickly as possible. By working closely with our state agencies and the Department of Human Resource Management, we have accelerated this change to begin a year and a half earlier than we had anticipated. We must consistently and correctly enforce the laws of this nation; our country is based on the rule of law. E-Verify will ensure that every state job is held by a legally authorized worker.”

E-Verify supplements procedures in place in the Commonwealth since November 1986 to ensure that state agencies are maintaining a legal workforce. Since Sept. 8, 2009, those state agencies receiving federal contracts requiring the use of E-Verify have been using the system.

“Virginia employs more than 100,000 people, so it is incumbent upon us to remain vigilant in ensuring the legal status of all who are on our payroll,” said Lisa Hicks-Thomas, secretary of administration. “Virginia’s state agencies will lead by example as we strive to have all Virginia companies participate in this free, easy-to-use program that ensures Virginia’s workers are legally eligible for jobs in the U.S.”

Nationwide, more than 238,000 employers are enrolled in the program, with over 16 million queries run through the system in fiscal year 2010.

Office of the Governor
Contact: Jeff Caldwell
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Updated 03/2011)

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Help Forge Two Missing Links Designate Bi- and

Tri-County Parkways Corridors of Statewide Significance

On March 16, 2011, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is scheduled to determine whether to designate the Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways as Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS).

A major factor in Northern Virginia becoming the nation's most traffic-congested region is the failure to build many parkways, particularly north-south, planned decades ago to support today's land use patterns and traffic demands. In many cases local governments took planned facilities off their maps.

In 2009 the Virginia House and Senate by unanimous vote authorized the CTB to designate corridors of statewide significance and initiate necessary studies to help advance them as public-private sector partnerships or conventional projects. To date the CTB has awarded such designation only to existing corridors such as I-66 and I-95.

The Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways represent badly needed north-south links to Washington Dulles International Airport and Northern Virginia employment centers.

Forces with a history of opposing the 2002 Bond Referendum, the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, new Potomac River Crossings, I-66 improvements, Governor McDonnell's bond package and virtually every other regional improvement of significance are railing against this designation.

To register your support for CoSS designation for the Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways, use the document below to send a letter on your letterhead to Secretary Connaughton. THANK YOU!

The Honorable Sean T. Connaughton, Chairman
Commonwealth Transportation Board
1111 East Broad Street, Room
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Secretary Connaughton:

The undersigned (or individual organization) request that the Commonwealth Transportation Board designate the Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways as Corridors of Statewide Significance and to initiate the necessary studies and actions to protect required rights of way and ultimately construct both facilities.

The need for additional north-south multi-modal capacity and the benefits of both Parkways have been well-documented by the Commonwealth’s 2005 Tri-County Parkway Location Study and other analysis. Both parkways appear on local comprehensive land use and transportation plans.

Northern Virginia is the nation’s most congested region in large part due to the failure to complete a previously planned transportation grid. Most planned radial connections to our metropolitan region’s core have been completed; many essential north south links have not. The result, as recently confirmed by a national study, is that our radial corridors are overwhelmed by traffic for lack of alternatives.

Washington Dulles International Airport is widely acknowledged to be a major economic engine for the Commonwealth and, in particular, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. However, the Airport’s ability to fulfill its potential is heavily dependent upon improved accessibility for passengers, freight and workers from the north and south. The Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways are key missing links. 

Job creation and sustained regional prosperity are heavily dependent upon a mobile and accessible work force. Loudoun and Prince William Counties are among Virginia’s fastest growing communities. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments projects that much of the region’s future population and job growth will occur in or adjacent to these counties. Attracting and keeping cutting edge employers requires improved north-south connectivity.

Such facilities also will help move people out of harm’s way in the event of homeland security emergency

In short, Corridor of Statewide Significance designation for the Bi-County and Tri-County Parkway is essential to improved regional mobility, quality of life, long-term prosperity and security. The (name) respectfully requests the Commonwealth Transportation Board to award such designation at its March 16, 2011 meeting.

Sincerely,

(Updated 03/2011)

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Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting

The Independent Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting has scheduled four public forums around the state this month as part of its goal to ensure bipartisan citizen involvement in the General Assembly and the Congressional redistricting process.  The public is invited to attend the Northern Virginia forum scheduled for Tuesday, March 15^th at 7:00 pm at George Mason University.  The forum is the public’s opportunity to present its ideas about how new political district boundaries should be drawn in keeping with population changes recorded by the 2010 Census.

With broad public input and with the assistance of impartial experts, the Commission has been charged to make recommendations about new district maps for the 100 seats in the House of Delegates, 40 seats in the state Senate and Virginia’s 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Commission will present its report April 1, 2011 to allow for full consideration of its recommendations prior to the reconvened session at which the General Assembly will hear from its own committees and vote on new districts. (Updated 03/2011)