CTB allocates funds for toll delay

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY/AP) - The Commonwealth’s Transportation Board has approved the allocation of $100 million to delay tolls until 2014.

Gov. Bob McDonnell made the request to the CTB Monday to respond to outcry in the Hampton Roads area that the tolls are too high.

WAVY TV’s Andy Fox was in Richmond for the meeting and said $87 million was saved on the project, so that money would go toward paying the tolls. An additional $13 million in various funds from the Virginia Department of Transportation would cover the rest.

The approval delays the implementation of tolls on the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels until January 2014.

It is a big win for Hampton Roads, but local legislators don't think it's a total win.

Norfolk Senator Yvonne Miller, (D), explained, “The reason I am not happy [is] because the state needs to stop putting on bandaids...we need money for projects statewide."

"It's a step in the right direction, but until you talk about taxes to pay for roads, we're just kicking the can down the street...We need to look at the state sales tax. We haven't raised the gas tax since 1986," Norfolk Senator Ralph Northam, (D), added. 

Senator Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, isn't ruling out taxes. But, he said, paying down the tolls happened without raising taxes, and that could be the only way it happened.

“I think it's a great idea because it didn't cost us anything. We are able to lower the cost because of the financial deal, and we were able to pass that along to our project. I think that's a good thing,” McWaters added.

One moderate Democrat, Sen. Charles Colgan of Prince William County, broke with his party and joined Republicans to give the budget the one-vote majority required for passage.

When word came that Colgan would side with Republicans, a "be on the look out" request was sent to State Police regarding State Senator Harry Blevins. Belvins left the General Assembly and was heading home to be with his wife, who was not feeling well. Once Blevins, who was heading towards Petersburg, was located, Blevins was turned around. He returned to the Senate, voted and then left to be with his wife.

Blevins' and Colgan's vote gave Republicans the 21 votes they needed to pass the budget.