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Chesterfield can't build its way out of road problems Though more developers are offering road money upfront during rezonings, everyone agrees road proffers aren't the solution to the estimated $1 billion Chesterfield needs for new roads and road improvements. To arrive at the $1 billion figure, the Chesterfield Transportation Department analyzed land use plans, growth in new commercial and residential developments and higher traffic counts. "I prefer the road proffers upfront," said Chesterfield Transportation Director John McCracken, "but we're not making a dent in our long-term needs." Developers are typically paying road proffers as each section of residential development opens instead of when each building permit is filed. The current maximum road proffer for each new residence is $8,915. "Proffers are not keeping up with our road needs, and the state is not living up to its responsibilities for building and improving Chesterfield's roads," said Kelly Miller, vice chairman of the Chesterfield board. "The old way of using one housing unit to generate so many dollars won't do it," agrees Planning Commission Chair Jack Wilson. "Proffers only address new development and not the shortfall we already have." "The board's policy of growth paying for itself hasn't worked because we're in a deeper hole today than when the policy was initiated," observed Midlothian Planning Commissioner Dan Gecker. "The idea that approving development to generate road money is wrong. At some point, we need a transportation bond, and I think the voters would support a referendum to build roads in certain parts of the county." In 2004, Chesterfield passed a $40 million road bond issue by an overwhelming margin. Historically, Chesterfield, like other local governments, relies on state government funding and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to build new roads and improve existing ones. Chesterfield is part of the Richmond district - one of 14 local governments - for that funding. If Chesterfield decided to fund new road construction, VDOT's resident engineer for Chesterfield and Powhatan counties, Dale Totten, says Chesterfield would continue to receive its fair share of state funding. Virginia law allocates road funding on a number of criteria including population, square miles and miles of roads. "VDOT has a corporate philosophy of the counties taking on more road building responsibilities," explained Totten. VDOT prioritizes road funding by paying debt first followed by maintenance of existing roads and then new construction. "If the revenue forecasts don't change by 2012, we're not going to have a construction budget [for new roads and improvements]," he said. Maintaining existing roads is claiming a larger share of the road budget because of the increasing costs of materials, higher fuel costs, more roads to maintain and Virginia's aging road infrastructure, explained Totten. Most of VDOT's funding comes from the state gas tax which is growing more slowly due to higher mileage vehicles and the changing driving habits caused by higher gas prices. By far, Chesterfield is adding more roads for VDOT to maintain than any other locality in the state. Most of those roads are within new subdivisions. From 1998 through June of this year, Chesterfield added 214 miles to the state road system. Within the Richmond district that represents 61 percent of the miles of new roads added. Henrico County maintains its own road network and is not part of the Richmond district. To see a county-by-county listing of the number of miles of new roads since 1998 maintained by VDOT, go to www.chesterfieldobserver.com and click on Special under News. 2006 Road Construction Costs |
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