State taxpayers, including those in Hampton Roads, are on the hook for as much as $300 million for a highway in Charlottesville that does little or nothing for congestion or safety and doesn't create jobs.
Actions by Virginia Department of Transportation officials indicate a bait and switch is under way. State officials, at a meeting this month, revealed two new designs for the southern terminus of the Charlottesville western bypass. But they failed to give cost estimates, and they failed to answer why Gov. Bob McDonnell's administration accepted a low bid last year of $136 million, when it was clear then that the design wasn't functional and would have to be reworked.
Last summer, when Virginia accepted the Skanska-Branch design to end-run four miles of existing U.S. 29 North, proponents baited taxpayers with how inexpensive construction would be, while other bidders grumbled that Skanska's bid didn't meet state requirements. One formally complained. Almost instantly, Virginia began meetings to re-engineer Skanska's accepted plan.
Now, in revealing new designs, the switch is confirmed. Taxpayers still can't judge the costs.
A few years ago, both Uncle Sam and Indiana researched "design-build" projects, which rely on a single contract for design and construction. The Federal Highway Administration noted that such projects, like the Charlottesville bypass, always cost more money. Indiana said it would never construct any major project "design-build" due to the probability of spiraling costs.
Charlottesville's bypass now ends south of two growing neighborhoods and threatens the lungs of students in six schools while dumping sand and dirt into the area's water supply.
Proponents argue Virginia will provide another $145 million to extend this bypass past those neighborhoods. But the Skanska design will tie up half of all state money coming to the entire Culpeper transportation district between now and 2050. None of the other eight counties will want their share of transportation dollars, will they?
Last fall, for trying to talk financial reality over this "colossal waste of taxpayer money," Jim Rich, a fiscal conservative who spent 20 years on Virginia's GOP executive committee, was fired by Virginia's Republican governor and secretary of transportation.
Why? Perhaps because if Virginia built overpasses on existing U.S. 29, it would create more congestion relief and better safety much cheaper. Building $80 million in overpasses would address almost four-fifths of accidents on U.S. 29 and change the road's level of service from an F to a B. The bypass will leave 29 an F.
Why? Perhaps because if parents pay attention, they'll realize the Environmental Protection Agency suggests any school within a half-mile of a major highway be analyzed to learn how exhaust is affecting student health, yet Virginia is poised to build this highway within one-third mile of six schools.
Why? Perhaps because if taxpayers search the data they'll find that VDOT clearly stated in 2009 "the Western Bypass is no longer an effective option to serve corridor-wide trips" - its mandated purpose.
Why? Perhaps because as the Albemarle County plan puts it, "The (bypass) project as designed does not meet community or regional needs, and has been determined too costly for the transportation benefits to be gained. The transportation goals of the Bypass can be more effectively realized with improvements to the existing Route 29 corridor."
In short, if Virginia citizens start thinking dollars and sense, they'll realize why Taxpayers for Common Sense places the Charlottesville bypass among the eight worst projects in the nation.
Author: Randy Salzman
Original Publication URL: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/05/making-mess-road-project
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