| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Jeffrey Caldwell (804) 786-2715 Jeffrey.Caldwell@vdot.virginia.gov Jennifer Pickett (804) 786-7432 drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov |
CO-0811 04/11/2008 |
DOWNSIZED SIX-YEAR PLAN HEARINGS KICK OFF APRIL 16
.
RICHMOND – The Commonwealth of Virginia will host six public hearings across the state in April and May to receive public input on a scaled down program for highway and transit improvements.
Hearings will be held at the following locations:
Wednesday, April 16, 5 p.m.
Holiday Inn Select
Downtown
601 Main St., Lynchburg, VA 24504Monday, April 21, 6 p.m.
VDOT Bristol District Office Auditorium
870 Bonham Road, Bristol, VA 24201Wednesday, April 23, 6 p.m.
VDOT Central Office Auditorium
1221 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Hampton Roads Planning District Regional Building
723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320Wednesday, April 30, 6 p.m.
Rockingham County Administration Center
20 E. Gay St., Harrisonburg, VA 22802Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.
Northern Virginia Community College
Ernst Cultural Center Forum Area
8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
Six-year transportation revenue projections are down $1.1 billion from a year ago. These revenue shortfalls will result in a 44 percent reduction in funding for primary, secondary and urban highway construction, and a 10 percent reduction in transit allocations.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board has had to scale back the program. “We continue our focus on safety and projects in the pipeline to make the most of the funds we have available,” said Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer. “Our primary and local roads will take the hardest hit because they are funded last and with state dollars,” he added.
Interstate highway construction projects, funded primarily by federal funds, are not significantly affected by these reductions in state funds.
Lists of specific projects and changes from the current plan will be available at each public hearing and on VDOT’s Web site at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/syp-default.asp.
( END)
