In one respect I have to give John Bell credit. Unlike most Democrats, he is not running a negative campaign. Instead, he running a campaign based upon ideas. Nevertheless, I have no intention of voting for him. The ideas Bell proposes do not work.
One of Northern Virginia’s most pressing needs is transportation system improvements. Recognizing that need, Bell has stepped up and offered his “battle plan.” Since his campaign treasury is well-financed, Bell provided potential voters with a nice glossy campaign ad that tells us all about his transportation strategy.
What does Bell want? The main details (scanty of detail, of course) are on Bell’s website (see here).
- Institute a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on I-66 and I-395.
- Ensure revenues collected for transportation actually go to funding transportation improvements.
- Increase transportation investment to get Virginia out of a “maintenance only” status.
- Propose VDOT adoption of the Practical Design Concept pioneered by the State of Missouri in order to maximize investment funding. To view Missouri’s Practical Design Concept visit their website: www.modot.mo.gov/business/PracticalDesign.htm.
- Find solutions that require little to no funding, such as creating a “Slug West” program to export the popular practice of ridesharing used on the I-395 corridors to I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road.
- Pursue policies that provide incentives for companies that offer regular telecommuting and alternate shifts.
In addition, Bell’s ad say he wants us to spend more Federal money, and he wants employers to locate near transit stations and employees to live near where they work.
So what is wrong with Commander-in-Chief (CINC) Bell’s transportation battle plan? Instead of a bottom up approach that responds to user needs, Bell wants top down approach that responds to the wisdom of the CINC. That kind of thinking is what created the mess in first place.
As voters and taxpayers, we have failed. We have behaved with utter ignorance. Instead of waiting until we have a solution, we have bought what the politicians gave us sight unseen. We have bought a pig in a poke, and Bell proposes we do more of the same. To repeat the same mistake over and over again is the very definition of insanity. Even though Bell advertises himself as fiscally conservative, he is quite ready to spend whatever money he can get his hands on. That includes Federal funds from a Federal Government that is already spending hugely in the red.
What does Bell know about transportation? His own biography indicates no special knowledge. There is no reason to trust him or the vast majority of the people we elect BEFORE we see the road, bus, and rail systems these officials want us to buy and use. Yet they want our money up front. Why should we be so stupid as to give it to them? Toll systems make far more sense. Moreover, toll systems would ensure revenues collected for transportation actually go to funding transportation improvements, a problem Bell has no reliable way to solve.
Consider how morally reprehensible our government’s “solutions” have become. Bell offers to creat a “Slug West” program. This ridesharing program is not a fix; it is an act of desperation. In better days, the government use to frown on ridesharing, and we called it hitchhiking. Now, however, the Liberals have found a word with a better connotation. Now they call it ridesharing.
What has Bob Marshall done?
Marshall has worked to make our transportation system function despite the fact we have given government officials our money upfront. Thus, his Transportation webpage talks about new roads, the expansion of I-66 (which he facilitated greatly), and citizen input. In addition, Marshall fights to keep unelected bodies from taxing us and spending our money. For example, he is fighting the efforts to divert tolls from the Dulles Toll Road to unintended purposes (see here). Moreover, Marshall has fought for structured growth, growth that pays for itself (see here).
In addition, Marshall has fought for funding new roads with tolls. For example, the right-wing liberal (here) describes a list of the bills Marshall fought for in 2008. That list included HB 6030 which would have funded roads with bonds paid for with tolls. Marshall fought for another such bill in 2009 (HB 1759).
So what is the answer?
Instead of more Bells frivolously spending our tax dollars, we need more Marshalls willing to let us control how we spend our money.
