VDOT funds are cut

The story is common: There just isn’t enough money to go around.

Last month, Kevin Wright, of the Virginia Department of Transportation, announced to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors that budget cuts at the state level will have a significant impact on Nelson County’s new construction projects secondary road system.

“What it boils down to, without any funds and additional revenue for VDOT, we’re going to build six to seven gravel roads, do two intersection improvements and there will be no additional construction projects in Nelson County for the next 10 years,” Wright said.

Wright said that revenue was down so much at VDOT for the first half of the fiscal year, and that projections for the second half were expected to also be reduced, that VDOT officials had updated their budgets, cutting almost all funds for new construction in secondary six-year plans for localities.

Projects such as paving on rural rustic roads like Wright Lane or Carter Hill Road will not be funded. With the new budget numbers, it will take more than 10 years to fund the reconstruction of Va. 617 in Schuyler, which was to be completed by 2014 under the old budget.

Wright said that under the first version of the six-year plan budget, Nelson County would receive $4.835 million in new construction funding over the next six years. Now, based on revenue reductions and forecasts, it is reduced by more than half to $2.275 million.

Also announced last week was the closing of the VDOT office in Amherst, which serves Nelson County. The residency that will serve Nelson will now be based in Dillwyn, which will also serve Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties.

“There were several factors considered in the proposed closure, including age of facilities and progress toward capitol expenditures,” said VDOT spokeswoman Paula Jones. “As I understand it, decisions about county groupings were made based on factors including but not limited to square miles, lane miles and proximity to other facilities.”

The secondary six-year plan in Nelson County establishes as a priority the work needed on secondary roads.

Wright said the funding for the next six years has virtually dried up.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen such an impact in a current six-year plan,” Wright said. “All of our revenue sources are being hit right now and they’re taking big hits.”

In this fiscal year, Nelson County received $762,148 for new road construction. That funding for fiscal year 2010 will be cut by more than half, to $300,063.

Two projects have already been funded. A turn lane will be added to Va. 6 at the intersection of Va. 634, and intersection improvements will be made to the intersection of Va. 6 and Va. 639 over the next three years.

Six of the 21 rural rustic road projects will also be funded. The rest will be removed from the plan.

The current project to build a turn lane on Va. 151 at the intersection of Va. 635 will not be affected, Wright said, because it is paid for with federal money.

Virginia received nearly $695 million in federal stimulus monies for highway systems. Wright said they are still waiting to hear about which projects, if any, will be funded.

Another update on the secondary six-year plan funding will be available in May.