Minutes (Revised Feb 23, 2005)

Present: Chairman Vince Thomas, President David Clark, Jim Babcock, Ed Brickell, Art Collins, Durwood Curling, Clyde Hoey, Doyle Hull, Ray Taylor and Harry Train.

Chairman Thomas opened the meeting at 10:04.

The minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of December 21,2004 were approved as written.

Jim Babcock updated the Executive Committee on the progress of work on the Hampton Roads Regional Structure Project. We are still building the membership of the Steering Committee. We currently have 36 members. We will get recommendations from Betsy McBride, chair of the Communications Committee on how to get our message out. What that message should be is work in progress.

David, Jim and Vince met with the Hampton Roads Legislative Caucus in Richmond yesterday. The only members present were: Glenn Oder, Ron Williams, ~~Mamir Dacote~~ Mamye BaCote, John Cosgrove, Algie Howell and John Welch. They listened to our presentation with what appeared to be respectful interest. We will ask Marty Williams to name a liaison. Now we will follow up. Vince will send a letter to all members. An interesting sidelight of yesterday is that George Crawley showed up with his 200 plus ~~men~~ Men group while we were there. We do not have many black people involved. We should get George Crawley to pick the “cream of the crop”.

Jim Babcock emphasized that the purpose of our research is to sharpen discussion of regionalism. The material developed by the study will show what needs to be done structurally. A few papers have already been produced. The Law Committee has finished its work.

At tomorrows meeting Betsy McBride will ask for $2,500 to create a web site. The consensus of the Executive Committee was that we should do it in house with the help of interns provided from TCC by Deborah DiCroce. And we should build on the work already done by Harry Train.

The Hampton Roads Partnership is about to issue its report on shared services.

Ray Taylor presented a coherent summary of the rationalization process.

David Clark then presented a brief summary of Anna McNider’s legislative activities.

Harry Train summarized a proposal received from the HRACRE Transportation Subcommittee. A copy of that document is attached. They seek Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. endorsement of their approach. Art Collins observed that they appear to have inflated the costs of projects not included in the Long Range Plan. We believe those figures are already inflated. Second we are not sure of the point being made on the ratio of construction to maintenance. There is no good or bad ratio. The issue is the amount of funding available for both activities, not any ratio of one to the other.

Art Collins noted that the Hampton Roads Partnership is coordinating a similar proposal. We need every body to concentrate on crossings, tolls, etc. and then support the best approach. We need to get more money from the state in the 2006/2007 budget. A one percent sales tax would solve the problem.

The Executive Committee agreed to advise HRACRE that we endorse the approach and are ready to work with them to achieve consensus on a statement that is both defensible and compelling.

Jim Babcock reported that Bobby ~~Bell~~ Bray approached him with the recommendation that the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. elect his deputy and heir apparent, Jeff Keever, to its board. Ed Brickell moved that Jeff Keever be elected to the board. Ray Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Vince Thomas will contact Jeff Keever and Jim Babcock will inform Bobby Bray of our acceptance of his recommendation.

There being no further business, the Executive Committee adjourned at 11:12.

Proposed HRACRE Transportation Subcommittee Mission Statement

THE ISSUE

• Transportation is a fundamental function of state government and is vital to the economic health of our state and region.

• There is a finding crisis at the state level for Virginia’s growing statewide transportation infrastructure needs, with only $7 billion budgeted over the next 20 years for $33 billion in projected costs, leaving nearly 150 projects unfunded. The cost of not raising additional revenue for transportation needs statewide and in Hampton Roads is four-fold:

o Inflation: The $26 billion in unfunded projects, when adjusted for inflation, will increase to $66 Billion by 2026.

o Increased Traffic Congestion: Southside and Peninsula Highway congestion will reduce to speeds of 25 mph or less during peak periods, while ALL major bridge tunnels will operate at speeds below 10 mph during peak periods.

o Safety: Injuries and fatalities increase disproportionately as congestion increases. In Hampton Roads there is a traffic accident every 17 minutes

and a traffic related injury every 30 minutes. One hundred thirty-five people were killed in Hampton Roads traffic accidents in 2002.

a Loss of Federal Funding: Maintenance costs for the more than 69.000 miles of roadway will exceed system construction costs by nearly 2 to 1 statewide, and 3.5 to 1 in Hampton Roads. The Commonwealth of Virginia may leave money on the table by not having any funds remaining (after maintenance) to gain Federal matching funds. Federal funds are now the largest single source of funding for transportation projects, and we will be at risk of losing all Federal matching funds.

HRACRE MISSION STATEMENT

HRACRE strongly supports the on-going improvements in VDOT performance and accountability. We strongly support increasing revenue at the state level dedicated to finding new- capital improvements, enough to Fund at a minimum the 298 candidate projects currently on the table. Additional revenue should be generated and sustained as part of a long-term solution rather than a short-term political ‘band-aid” fix.

• We support alternative approaches to finding transportation projects identified in VDOT’s list of projects, including Public-Private partnerships authorized by the

PPTA.

• We will cooperate with other professional organizations at the regional and state level that support our position that the time is now for increased, dedicated, sustainable revenues for transportation construction and maintenance.

• We will support efforts by regional public and private organizations to educate the citizens of Hampton Roads about the cost of not raising additional revenue for our transportation needs, and we will encourage our fellow citizens to contact theft elected officials regarding the need for effective legislation.