The editors of the Free Lance-Star attempted to convince Spotsylvanians to join the Virginia Railway Express. Their arguments sound good at first hearing, but fall apart when thoroughly examined.
Unlike most VRE skeptics, I’m also a VRE rider. That forces me to give this a little more thought than most on either side of this issue. In fact, my VRE experience all but jumped out at me when I saw this paragraph from their editorial:
The idea is simple and attractive: The STC hopes to draw companies that can band together to lure lucrative federal contracts to the center. Eventually there may be enough business there for Woodbridge residents to consider commuting to the area, justifying southbound commuter trains or an additional stop by existing Amtrak trains.
But for trains to stop, there must be a station. And VRE will build one, but only if Spotsylvania joins the system.
First of all, I can assure the folks at Summit Crossing (of which STC would be a part) that a VRE stop is not essential to win federal contracts. For example, the Skyline City office complex in the Falls Church area (six buildings above the Target that used to be Skyline Mall) does not have a VRE stop, but it hasn’t prevented the Defense Department from practically monopolizing the office space in the complex (the Defense Health Program in particular). What Skyline does have is a stop for two buses directly from VRE stops.
More to the point, given the rail demand already in existence (VRE north-morning/south-afternoon trains, Amtrak, and CSX freight), a VRE south-morning/north-afternoon trains will need a third track from Springfield to Fredericksburg, which will take more time and cost than VRE backers are willing to admit, even to themselves. VRE would also need to double the number of trains on the F-burg line, another hidden cost.
So the benefits of VRE for Spotsylvania would be delayed, and come with costs that haven’t really been discussed. There is, however, one cost that is well known – the 2 cent gas tax increase. The FLS editors attempt to defend that is just as weak:
Opponents of the VRE have argued that county residents can’t afford an additional 2 percent per gallon for fuel. But guess what? Spotsy gas without the VRE add-on isn’t any cheaper. In fact, as of this writing, the “pump patrol” prices listed on our sister radio station’s Web site, wfls.com, show gas stations in Breezewood and along Route 3 west charging $3.14 per gallon, while gas in VRE partner localities (Fredericksburg and Stafford County) is $3.09. Adding the 2 percent could actually force gas stations to become more competitive.
It should be noted that at the time this was being written (Thursday, as it ran in Friday’s edition), gasoline on Tidewater Trail was going for $3.07 – not that anyone should be surprised that the FLS has continued to ignore northeastern Spotsylvania, but I digress.
The bigger issue is this – someone will have to pay that tax; if it’s not the consumers, it’s the station owners. Perhaps the FLS editors aren’t aware of this, but the station owners are not the big bad oil companies, but local franchisees. The editors may be OK with forcing them to eat the tax increase (that’s what “becom(-ing) more competitive” really means), but that doesn’t mean it’s better for the county and its business community.
In short, the benefits are less than advertised, while the cost is greater. VRE may be a good deal for some individual Spotsylvanians like me, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good deal for Spotsylvania.
Cross-posted to Rappahannock Red
[...] Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal [...]
Yet, many Spotsylvanians drive to a station (either Fredericksburg or Leeland Road) and park for free. Someone is paying for the upkeep of that lot, and it is not coming from VRE. If spotys residents want to take VRE, the should all have to pay for lot use. Otherwise, they are burdening other taxpayers because they don’t want to pony up the $0.02 per gallon.
If there is a local VRE station, just think how you are helping the environment. Driving less, saving roads (not in your county), using less gas, etc..
It’s 2% per gallon, not $0.02 per gallon; big difference when gas costs $3.00 a gallon.
And if everyone was so on board getting on VRE (no pun intended), why don’t they lobby the General Assembly to change the requirement that the jurisdiction impose a 2% gas tax? Make the tax an option to pay for the upkeep and fees associated with VRE instead of a requirement.
Or as D.J. has pointed out previously, make a corresponding reduction in the meals tax in the jurisdiction so the whole thing is tax neutral.
I didn’t know that $0.04 / gallon was a big difference. It is a difference, not that much. Gas priced dropped $0.06 / gallon overnight, so it fluctuates with market.
If every tax was an option, then no taxes would be paid. If VRE knows they will have the additional upkeep in the jurisdiction, then they should get some dedicated funding from those localities. The gas tax is just the vehicle for that funding.
I’m not against a tax neutral policy, but Spotsy residents have been using the VRE while letting other residents fund the stations that they use. That’s what I’m against.
Personally, I would like to see paid parking for non-county residents at Leeland Road.
$0.04 per gallon is a big difference when you’re running a gas station that makes $0.04 per gallon profit to begin with — if you’re lucky. In a lot of cases, the station makes no money on gasoline and just uses the gasoline to get people to come into the store.
$0.04 per gallon is also a lot if you happen to be driving an 18-wheeler up and down I-95 with your 250 gallon gas tank.
And it would be closer to $0.0525 per gallon tax too right now.
Why should a county be stopped from funding VRE via regular general fund revenues (e.g., property taxes)?
Not to mention, you’re missing my point: the locale is required by Virginia law (§ 58.1-1720 I believe) to impose a gasoline tax if they want to join VRE. Locales, on the other hand, aren’t required to impose taxes such as real estate and personal property.
If you want paid parking at Leeland Road for non-county residents talk to the Stafford BOS or VRE. Tell ‘em it’s a “revenue generator”.
If the owners don’t make any money, then they will raise the cost at the pump. If they don’t raise it and chose to lose money, then I question their judgment as a business owner.
If the $10 or $15 of that tax causes the 18-wheeler to become unprofitable, again I question their business sense. Truckers should take the cost of gas into account when they bill their customer.
I agree that how the tax is administered is up to the local. They should be give a cost/year to join VRE, and let them determine how to come up with the revenue.
I was using the “revenue generator” as an example of what should be done. I don’t care enough to do anything about it and I get their early enough to get a good parking space.
Oh, so the gas tax will increase the price at the pump then? Everyone else seems to say otherwise.
And let’s see, if another gas station or trucking company is willing and able to take reductions in revenue from the gas tax without increasing their fees or costs, a competing company might not be able to do that. They’re going to have to reduce pay, lay people off, or reduce other costs.
Either way, you have more money going to the government and a failed transportation system (rail) instead of being spent by customers on useful products.
I was making a crack about a “revenue generator”, due to the fact that the folks on the Stafford BOS seem to think a massive tax on businesses (BPOL) is a “revenue generator”.
“if another gas station or trucking company is willing and able to take reductions in revenue from the gas tax without increasing their fees or costs, a competing company might not be able to do that.”
Isn’t that the capitalist system?
If one of our competitors can offer the same service for a cheaper price, and they take more of the market place, then we would have to re-evaluate.
All Public Transportation Systems will not make money on the books. Local Bus, Local Rail, Local Ferry, etc. It is part of the community services et. al. – not a “revenue generator”. Note that I say local, I don’t count Amtrak, Airlines, etc.
I agree that VA transportation (especially roads) is a mess, but I think that is a larger issue than this case.