State News
Virginia Attorney General Announces Conviction in Unemployment Fraud Case
In a significant development for justice in Virginia, Attorney General Jason Miyares has reported a new victory in the fight against unemployment fraud. Under Miyares’s direction, the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit has successfully secured a conviction against Ajarhi RobertsĀ of Winchester, marking another achievement in the state’s efforts to combat fraud.
Roberts was tried and convicted in the Winchester City Circuit Court for the felony offense of obtaining money by false pretense, a violation outlined in Virginia’s legal code. This conviction highlights the state’s stringent stance against fraudulent activities, especially those exploiting financial assistance programs designed to aid Virginians in need.
The sentencing for Roberts was severe, reflecting the seriousness with which Virginia treats such crimes. Roberts has been sentenced to five years in prison, with the majority of the sentence suspended, leaving four months to be served. Additionally, the court-mandated supervised probation for Roberts and ordered restitution. Roberts is now obliged to pay $100,000 in restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission, compensating for the fraudulent claims made.
This case was brought to light through the collaborative efforts of the Virginia State Police, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. Their joint investigation underscores Virginia’s comprehensive approach to address and deter unemployment fraud.
Attorney General Miyares expressed his views on the matter: “Unemployment fraud is a cruel way of taking advantage of systems designed to help Virginians down on their luck. My Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit is dedicated to bringing these cases to justice.” This conviction is part of a broader effort initiated in March 2022 when the Virginia Employment Commission enlisted Attorney General Miyares’s assistance in prosecuting fraudulent claims for unemployment compensation.
This conviction serves as a stern reminder of the consequences awaiting those who seek to exploit the unemployment benefits system. It also reinforces the dedication of Virginia’s legal and investigative bodies to uphold the integrity of systems meant to support individuals facing economic hardships. Through continued vigilance and collaborative efforts, Virginia aims to maintain a fair and just process for the distribution of unemployment benefits, ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it.
Local News
VDOT Lifts Lane Closures for Fourth of July Holiday Travel
The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds motorists to prepare for busy travel days on the roads and stay safe as drivers head out for cookouts, fireworks, and summer activities.
To keep traffic moving during this time, VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Wednesday, July 3, until noon on Friday, July 5.
While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOTās Travel Advisories for the latest travel alerts in your area and around the state.
Additionally, VDOT offers several resources to help plan travel ahead of time.
Travel Trends Map Estimates Peak Congestion
VDOT’s online, interactive travel trends map shows peak congestion periods anticipated on Virginia interstates during the Fourth of July holiday period. While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when traffic has historically moved slowly.
Based on historical data:
- The days of highest travel on the interstates are likely to be on Wednesday and Sunday, with moderate to heavy congestion likely from noon through 7 p.m. on these days.
- I-95 northbound and southbound is expected to be heavily congested in Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia on Wednesday and Friday through Monday.
- I-77 northbound is likely to be congested between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. during the entire period in the Wytheville area.
- Routes to and from Virginia Beach will likely be congested between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the holiday period.
Plan Ahead with VDOT 511: Traffic Information at Your Fingertips
VDOTās free mobile 511 app offers information about construction, traffic, incidents, congestion, access to traffic cameras, weather, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and more. Use 511ās āspeak aheadā option for hands-free and eyes-free audible traffic alerts for incidents and construction along your route. Traffic information is also available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.
Northern Virginia Express Lanes Schedule and Other Information
- Find directional schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes and information for the I-495 Express Lanes at expresslanes.com.
Hampton Roads HOV Schedule, Tunnels, and Other Information
- Travel to Virginia Beach ā Peninsula traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). If traveling to Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then, take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to I-264 east to Virginia Beach.
- Travel to Outer Banks ā Traffic to the North Carolina Outer Banks should use I-664 and the MMMBT as an alternative to the HRBT to save time. From I-664 south, take I-64 west (exit 15, Chesapeake/Virginia Beach) to exit 291B (Chesapeake Expressway (Route 168)/Great Bridge/Nags Head). Continue south on Route 168 to the Outer Banks.
Stay Safe
Here are some additional tips for safely navigating the roadways during the holiday period:
- If you plan to drink, have a designated driver.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 as soon as it is safe.
- Always wear your seat belt ā your best defense against impaired and distracted drivers.
- Put your phone down, and donāt drive distracted.
- Use caution as more pedestrians and cyclists are outdoors enjoying the holiday.
- Obey the āMove Overā law, requiring motorists to move over one lane, if possible, for all vehicles with flashing lights, flares, or warning signs stopped on the side of the road.
For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOTās 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).
Local News
New Rules for Farm Use Vehicles Effective July 1
Virginia farmers take note! Starting July 1, 2024, new regulations for farm-use vehicles will be enforced. These rules, enacted by Virginia lawmakers in 2023, require unregistered farm-use vehicles to display a DMV-issued permanent farm-use placard. The placard must be prominently displayed on panel trucks, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 7,500 pounds.
Details of the New Regulation
Key Requirements:
- Placard Purchase: Farm vehicle owners must buy a DMV-issued placard for $15. This placard is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle.
- Application Process: Owners must apply for a local DMV Select or full-service DMV location. The application must include information about the farmās location, size, and commodities, along with signed statements confirming the vehicle’s exempt use and insurance coverage.
- Display of Placard: The placard must be displayed on the front and back of the vehicle starting July 1, 2024.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance: A first violation will result in a fine of up to $250. Subsequent violations will also be fined $250 each.
Purpose of the New Rules
The new law ensures that farm use tags are used appropriately and that Virginiaās roads are safer. āAs farm vehicles are key to agricultural productivity, it is important that Virginia farmers can continue to use them in their operations while preventing farm use tags from being used on other vehicles inappropriately,ā said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie.
Conditions for Farm Use Vehicles
Eligible vehicles must meet specific criteria to qualify for the DMV-issued farm use placard:
- Agricultural Use: The vehicle must be used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the vehicle’s owner and not operated on public highways except for specific purposes.
- Limited Highway Use: Vehicles can operate on highways for up to 75 miles to transport farm produce and livestock or to reach storage houses, packing plants, markets, or sawmills.
- Seasonal Use: Vehicles can be used seasonally for specific agricultural activities, including transporting produce, livestock, and essential supplies.
- Special Exemptions: Vehicles drawn by farm tractors and used for specific agricultural purposes, such as transporting unginned cotton, peanuts, or fertilizer, are also eligible.
Exemptions and Insurance Requirements
Certain farm vehicles are exempt from needing the DMV-issued placard:
- Vehicles Over 7,500 Pounds: Farm vehicles with a GVWR greater than 7,500 pounds are exempt.
- Specific Machinery: Vehicles with attached machinery for spraying plants or specific agricultural purposes are also exempt.
All unregistered farm-use vehicles must be insured under a general liability policy that includes personal injury and property damage liability insurance. Failure to provide proof of insurance within 30 days when requested by a law enforcement officer is a traffic infraction punishable by a $600 fine.
Encouragement from Authorities
DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey urged farmers to comply with the new regulations: āThere is not much time left before enforcement begins, so we encourage farmers to bring their filled-out applications to their local DMV.ā Similarly, VSP Superintendent Colonel Gary Settle highlighted the importance of the 12-month grace period, stating that it provided farmers ample time to familiarize themselves with the new requirements.
Conclusion
Virginia farmers must act now to ensure compliance with the new farm use vehicle regulations. By purchasing and displaying the DMV-issued farm use placard, farmers will adhere to the law and contribute to the safety and proper use of Virginiaās roads. For more information and to begin the application process, visit your local DMV Select or full-service DMV location.
Local News
Bel Air Added to the Virginia Landmarks Register
Bel Air, a historic mansion in Front Royal, has been added to the Virginia Landmarks Register to recognize Virginia’s rich historical heritage. This property, built in 1795, stands as a testament to the architectural and historical evolution of the region. Initially constructed in the Federal style, Bel Air has witnessed numerous pivotal events and transformations, reflecting its storied past.
Early History and Construction
Bel Air is located in Front Royal, Virginia, a once bustling center of economic and agricultural activity in the Shenandoah Valley. Captain Thomas Buck, one of Front Royal’s founders, constructed the mansion. The central brick portion of Bel Air was built around 1795, with earlier log wings predating it. According to family lore, these log wings were among the first structures on the property, signifying the Buck family’s early settlement in the area.
Captain Thomas Buck was a prominent figure in the region. Born in 1756, Buck served in various significant roles, including as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia, a Captain in the 8th Virginia Regiment during the American Revolution, and a trustee of Front Royal. Under Buck’s ownership, Bel Air evolved into a substantial estate, reflecting the prosperity and status of its inhabitants.
The Buck Family and the Civil War Era
Bel Air remained under the Buck family’s ownership for more than 125 years, during which it witnessed significant historical events, most notably during the Civil War. Lucy Rebecca Buck, a young resident at the time, chronicled her experiences during the war and the Union forces’ occupation of Bel Air in her diary. Her detailed accounts provide a vivid picture of life during the tumultuous period.
Bel Air’s significance is further underscored by its notable visitors during the Civil War, including Confederate spy Belle Boyd and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. General Lee’s visit to Bel Air is well-documented, with local folklore recounting how he enjoyed a glass of buttermilk on the front porch and interacted with the Buck family.
Architectural Evolution
In 1905, Bel Air was sold to the Downing family, marking the first time the property passed out of Buck’s hands. The new owners undertook significant renovations to the house, transforming it into a Classical Revival-style residence. Local builder Gustave A. Beyer spearheaded these renovations, which included removing the original log wings, adding a grand portico, and updating the interior layout and trim.
Despite these changes, Bel Air retains many of its original features. The mansion’s oldest segment, a five-bay, two-story brick structure, rests on a stone foundation. The 1905/1906 renovations added a monumental portico supported by stuccoed columns with Modern Ionic capitals. The house’s exterior walls were stuccoed, and the original multi-light windows were replaced with one-over-one wooden sash windows.
The interior of Bel Air combines elements of the Queen Anne and Classical Revival styles. The entrance hall features a grand staircase, a naturally finished paneled wainscot, and a Queen Anne-style mantel. The dining room, added during the 1905/1906 renovation, matches the hall’s trim, while the rear ell houses a pantry, kitchen, and additional living spaces. The second floor contains bedrooms with Queen Anne-style mantels, and the attic holds three rooms with original wide pine board flooring and hand-riven lath beneath the plaster.
Historical Significance
Bel Air’s inclusion in the Virginia Landmarks Register underscores its importance as one of the most significant residential properties in Front Royal. The propertyās rich history, architectural evolution, and association with prominent historical figures make it a vital link to the past.
During its time, Bel Air has known only three sets of owners since the late eighteenth century, maintaining a direct familial connection to the original settlers. Its connections to historical developments and subsequent evolution make Bel Air a remarkable testament to the past. It vividly illustrates the transformation of early Federal-style brick dwellings through to the early twentieth century.
Archaeological Potential
The grounds surrounding Bel Air offer substantial archaeological potential. The area includes remnants of nineteenth-century domestic and agricultural outbuildings and sites of Civil War activity. The ruins of a stone chimney on the property could reveal insights into the estate’s early domestic arrangements, further enriching our understanding of Bel Air’s historical context.
Bel Air’s addition to the Virginia Landmarks Register celebrates its historical and architectural significance. The mansion not only represents a key part of Front Royal’s heritage but also serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Buck family and the broader historical narrative of the Shenandoah Valley. As a preserved piece of history, Bel Air offers a window into the past, inviting public interest and scholarly research into its storied legacy.
State News
Virginiaās New School Accountability System is Taking Shape
The Virginia Board of Education took another step on Friday to clarify how schools will be rated and student performance measured to better determine how to direct state resources.
The board, on the superintendentās recommendation, approved four performance descriptors: āDistinguished,ā āOn Track,ā āOff Trackā and āNeeds Intensive Support.ā
Schools considered ādistinguishedā are those that exceed the stateās expectations for growth, achievement, and readiness, while āneeds intensive supportā schools are those that āsignificantlyā do not meet any of the stateās expectations.
The āon-trackā and āoff trackā descriptors mean schools are either meeting or not meeting expectations. However, questions surfaced on where the terms came from, the benchmarks, and the descriptions behind the labels.
Under the proposed plan, Virginia will begin collecting data for the new performance framework starting in August. Results will be released during the 2025-26 school year.
Board President Grace Creasey, a Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointee, said the department will do more work to flush out the descriptions as the revision of the stateās accreditation system moves forward.
Va. Department of Education begins developing new accountability system
āI would like to remind us that the purpose here is transparency and understanding on behalf of not just people in schools, not just those of us sitting here in this room, not people who do education every day,ā said Creasey on Friday. āThis is for people to understand who are parents and families; and so while weāre deciding what the main categories are, these descriptors have yet to be fully baked at this point.ā
Earlier in the process of revising the accreditation system, the board considered two different measures to track academic performance: an achievement index and an overall school rating, which raised concerns about the potential impact on low-performing schools and efforts to recruit teachers and influencing parents to seek other school choices for their children.
Since April, teachers, parents, students, and education leaders have told the board they support using category descriptions instead of an A-F rating scale.
The category descriptors are part of a larger plan by Youngkinās administration to overhaul the existing accountability system, which focuses on accreditation and measures schools based on academic achievement, performance gaps, student attendance and graduation and dropout rates, and factors like building safety, student-teacher ratios and licensure.
Schools are then labeled accredited, accredited with conditions or not accredited.
Members of the administration and the board have criticized the current system for being vague and failing to address declines in student performance in subjects such as math and reading.
The administrationās process includes splitting up the stateās accreditation system into two parts: an accreditation system, to assess whether schools meet all requirements laid out in state laws and regulations; and an accountability system, to provide ātimely and transparent information on student and school performance.ā
Under the new system, schools will be rated based on studentsā success, measured by their mastery of subjects and academic growth.
Stakeholders and the board are split on the weight factors totaling the overall score for each school level.
Earlier the board expressed that āmasteryā is important to make sure students thoroughly understand the concepts before graduating to the next grade level. Others have urged the board to keep āmasteryā and āgrowthā at an equal weight.
The overall score for elementary schools consists of three weight factors: 65% mastery, 25% growth, and 10% readiness.
In middle schools, the performance score is weighted 60% mastery, 20% growth and 20% readiness; high schoolsā performance score is weighted 50% mastery, 35% readiness and 15% graduation.
VDOE staff said the performance descriptors would be in addition to the three federally required support and improvement identification categories: Comprehensive, Targeted and Additional Targeted. The designations are given to schools because a specific group of students may need assistance in catching up to the instruction.
Schools identified as ācomprehensiveā receive full federal support for the entire school, compared to ātargetedā schools, which receive support for low-performing subgroups.
āThis is all about providing a holistic picture to the public thatās more transparent, more clear about where schools are performing across all the indicators in the system,ā said Anne Hyslop, director of policy development for All4Ed.
Last year, the department contracted with Hyslop to work on changes to the accreditation system along with Chad Aldeman, the Edunomics Lab policy director at Georgetown University.
Board member Anne Holton, former state secretary of education and an appointee of Democratic Govs. Terry McAuliffee and Ralph Northam, was the lone vote against accepting the recommendation, saying she needed more information about the descriptors.
āThere are at least a dozen significant decisions, including one of the most important decisions of these āwhere the lines are going to be drawnā that we havenāt made yet, even though weāre implementing the system starting with the school year that starts in six weeks,ā Holton said.
She added that sheās concerned that the proposed accreditation system has not been āfully thought outā and will have āunintended consequencesā on teachers, families and āour neediest students.ā
by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury
Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.
State News
Virginia Senate Returns to Richmond But Fails to Pass Any Bills
Democratic leaders in the Virginia Senate thought they could go their own way on the scheduling and policy agenda for a rare June special session. But things didnāt go according to plan Tuesday as the Senate spent a whole day in Richmond without taking up a single bill.
Supporters of bills to legalize skill games and reverse recent cost-cutting measures imposed on a program that allows some military families to get tuition-free college filled a meeting room Tuesday morning to see the Senate act on the two hot-button issues that were expected to be on the agenda.
Virginia Senate set to take up military tuition program, skill games
The Senate committee that was supposed to get the day rolling Tuesday morning gaveled in an hour late as senators repeatedly ducked in and out of backroom huddles. And when the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee meeting got underway, Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, announced the committee wouldnāt be voting on either topic after all.
When that committee meeting ended, Democrats leaders hinted they had a backup plan in the works as they headed to the Senate floor. When that plan also failed to gain traction, the Senate wrapped up its day without much of anything happening except speeches.
āIām livid. Itās ridiculous,ā said Norfolk military wife Suzanne Wheatley. āI took a day out of my life, I took a day out of my childās life, to be here.ā
The lack of action left both issues in limbo as the Senate left town again with a vague agreement to reconvene by July 1.
Wheatley and several other people who traveled to Richmond Tuesday expressed disgust over what they saw as a round of political sniping over veteran benefits that went nowhere and gave them no clarity on what the state intends to do about the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, or VMSDEP.
āItās a move-the-goalposts exercise,ā said Stafford County military veteran and advocate Caitlin Goodale-Porter.
VMSDEP waives public higher education for spouses and children of military members killed or severely disabled as a result of their service. Alarmed by a spike in the numbers of students using the benefit and the associated costs for state colleges, policymakers recently changed the rules of the program to make fewer families eligible for it.
A bipartisan budget deal approved last month imposed a stricter Virginia residency requirement, prevents the waivers from being used for advanced degrees or a second undergraduate degree and requires participants to first pursue other forms of financial aid and only use VMSDEP for remaining costs.
Though Democrats have pointed out many Republicans backed the VMSDEP changes before demanding that they be reversed, Democrats are split over whether they should go along with Gov. Glenn Youngkinās call to immediately repeal the VMSDEP reforms. The inaction Tuesday gave Republicans an easier opening to argue dysfunction in the Democratic-controlled legislature was preventing a policy misstep from being fixed.
Lucas refused to docket a bill backed by the Senate Republicans and at least four Senate Democrats, numbers that couldāve given the legislation enough votes to pass in a chamber where Democrats hold a slim 21-19 majority.
āI stand with our military heroes, first responders, and their families today who are stunned that Senate Democrat leadership failed to even consider a simple bill, supported by a bipartisan majority of Senators, to reverse the changes to VMSDEP by fully repealing the language, and addressing this in the full light of day,ā Youngkin said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon. āThese men and women deserve so much better.ā
Two Democratic lawmakers ā Sens. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax and Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun ā were absent from the Capitol Tuesday as they both competed in a congressional primary election the same day. Given the lack of votes in the Senate, itās unclear if their absence affected Democratsā decision to not bring any bills to the floor. All 19 Republicans were present, giving the GOP equal voting strength to Democrats with Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears acting as the tie-breaker.
Both parties in the House of Delegates have expressed support for passing a complete repeal bill like the one Lucas blocked when the House returns to the Capitol on June 28.
Democratic leaders in the Senate said it was Republicans who were being intransigent by refusing to work with the majority party.
āThe Republican caucus wouldnāt cooperate with us on any of the two solutions we proposed,ā Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, told reporters after the Senate finished for the day.
Lucas had filed a bill partially rolling back the VMSDEP changes by ensuring that anyone using VMSDEP to enroll in classes this fall wouldnāt be impacted by the eligibility changes and exempting the families of veterans killed or wounded in combat with a 90% disability rating. Democrats have said that proposal would reduce the disruption to college plans military families say theyāve experienced since the budget was passed, while also moving the program closer to its original purpose of helping families impacted by war instead of being a more open-ended benefit.
At the committee meeting, Lucas faulted the governor as she explained the decision to not take up her own bill. On Monday, Youngkinās office had said the governor would not act on a skill game bill until the General Assembly had fully repealed the VMSDEP changes.
āYesterday the governor seemed to indicate that he wouldnāt sign a skill game bill until after the VMSDEP changes are repealed,ā Lucas said. āIām not going to pit constituents against each other. We care about all of you. We need solutions on both issues. And weāll have to continue working in both.ā
Lucas announced that she was creating a legislative work group to study VMSDEP and directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to take a deeper look at data showing how the program is or isnāt working as intended. Youngkin has already convened his own task force to study the program.
Democrats proposed another VMSDEP fix: simply delaying the effective date of the changes until Oct. 1 while the work group conducted its research. That idea went nowhere, Surovell said, because Republicans wouldnāt agree to help Democrats with procedural votes to get it onto the floor Tuesday.
Virginia House and Senate will take up military tuition benefit on different days
When questioned by reporters as she left the Capitol, Lucas didnāt give a clear answer on what she would do if the House sends the Senate a VMSDEP bill like the one she blocked Tuesday.
āIāll make up my mind then,ā she said.
In floor speeches, several Republicans senators blasted the process as fundamentally undemocratic, suggesting Lucasās rule over her committee shouldnāt outweigh the majority opinion of the 40-person Senate.
The bill to fully repeal the VMSDEP changes, said Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, has āmajority support in the Senate.ā
āAnd yet despite these folks getting up early today and driving here, they didnāt get to have that bill heard,ā he said.
Republicans could have attempted to bring the full repeal bill to the floor over Lucasās objections, a little-used parliamentary move that effectively lets the full body override the wishes of a committee chair. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, said the GOP chose not to use that ānuclear optionā out of deference to Senate tradition. But he took exception to Lucasā decision not to docket the repeal bill he co-sponsored and said heās unsure what might happen when the House sends over its version.
āIām not confident of anything right now to be honest with you,ā Reeves said. āOther than we wasted a bunch of taxpayersā money coming down here with our thumbs up our butt getting nothing done.ā
Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, accused Republicans of politicizing the issue and taking a āmy way or the highwayā approach to the conversation.
āIt has become more of a political discussion than a policy discussion,ā Locke said.
Surovell told reporters the criticism of how Lucas is wielding her power is overstated, because committee chairs frequently have to decide to docket some bills and not others in the compressed time frame of a special session.
āI donāt know why it should be any different now that thereās a Black woman chairing the committee,ā he said.
Friends of VMSDEP, the main advocacy group opposing the recent eligibility changes, blasted Lucas for her actions Tuesday. In a statement, the group said Lucas and other skill game supporters had āhijackedā the day to ātry to unleash an unprecedented expansion of gambling across the commonwealthā instead of addressing the needs of veterans.
Advocates for legalizing skill games were also left wondering what the Senateās decisions Tuesday meant. In a statement, the pro-skill game Virginia Merchants and Amusements Coalition said it hopes lawmakers āwill come together on a resolution when they reconvene.ā
by Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury
Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.
State News
Are Virginia Toll Roads Costly and Confusing? A State Study Shows Many Drivers Think So.
Researchers found that some complex toll roads in Northern Virginia are āless understandableā for people who drive high occupancy vehicles and that inconsistent toll signage in Virginia may also cause driver confusion. The findings come after a months-long study into easing vehicle traffic congestion, specifically on popular Interstates 81 and 95, and possible ways to stop rising toll costs.
Cost concerns
According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the General Assembly, 7% of EZ-Pass users from Northern Virginia surveyed said they donāt use the toll routes because of their design and layout.
However, 72% of respondents said they refrained due to costs ranging from $2 to more than $20, depending on the travel length and congestion.
ā72% of the people polled said the high cost of the tolls was preventing them from using the toll lanes, and to us, this confirms a major flaw in the private toll lane concept,ā said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, which advocates for walking, cycling and using public transportation as sustainable, equitable alternatives to driving.
On June 5, researchers presented their results to state lawmakers. The findings also included a review of the stateās public-private transportation partnerships, which are agreements between the state and private entities to develop and operate toll roads.
NoVa tolls and highway congestion
According to the report, five toll operators manage over 100 miles of road in Northern Virginia alone.
Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, whose district encompasses toll lanes, said on June 5 that the stateās review of contracts with toll operators is key to addressing the costs for drivers. Researchers said the contracts allow operators to determine access and are rated based on several factors including a vehicleās weight, type and number of axles.
McPike hopes the Department of Transportation will focus on standardizing the contract provisions with toll operators to ensure theyāre applied āfairly and equitably across all around the system.ā
Research staff also found that some drivers had trouble navigating express lanes because of the ācomplex nature of facilities and tolling,ā such as limited entry and exit ramps and dynamic toll pricing, which can vary based on the traffic conditions to maintain a free-flowing level.
Just 44% of drivers in Northern Virginia understood the requirements to use high occupancy vehicle or HOV lanes, the report revealed.
Researchers said most Northern Virginia drivers correctly identified the toll price when shown a static image of a toll sign, compared to others who were less likely to understand toll price when shown a video approaching a toll sign.
Researchers recommended that the Virginia Department of Transportation require toll operators to use signage consistent with existing signage, especially for state roads.
While researchers found some benefits to the toll operator partnerships, they also found contractual restrictions complicate attempts to alleviate congestion around Northern Virginiaās Occoquan, one of the most congested traffic areas in the Commonwealth.
Adding more lanes on I-95 may not be a cost-effective long-term solution to congestion, according to VDOT, which researchers cited in their report.
McPike said there are other plans to help address congestion in the region, such as expanding rail services, ābut the long-lasting growth projections still have failing infrastructure that needs to be addressed by Virginia. Itās gotta start soon, or else weāre going to continue to be decades behind.ā
Researchers said a 2012 toll operator contract requires the state to pay penalties if a project in the region diverts traffic away from I-95 and the express lanes, decreasing revenue.
According to the contract, Virginia would be required to pay the toll operator if it adds general lanes on I-95, on the Occoquan Bridge on Route 1 or if it expands Route 1 from Lorton Road in Fairfax County to Garrisonville Road in Stafford.
What the study said about I-81
State officials have considered using a public-private partnership toll system to improve the 325-mile Interstate 81, which runs north to south through the western part of the commonwealth. However, researchers told lawmakers the concept would not be suitable given the āsubstantialā state contribution required. The measure would have cost up to $13 billion for a car-only tolled lane.
I-81 does not have enough congestion to warrant creating a toll system on the corridor, researchers said, despite its daily use by freight truck drivers and other travelers who use it to connect to dozens of communities, colleges, and businesses. The areaās traveling terrain and the trucks make delays less predictable compared to other interstates in Virginia, and they are likely due to random incidents.
Kim Sandum, an Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley coordinator and transportation lead, said she hoped researchers would have focused more on addressing the safety issues instead of congestion on I-81.
In December 2018, the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted findings from an I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan, which she said focused on addressing the corridorās safety issues, which stem from its constrained configuration, and lack of capacity and reliable detour routes.
āThat whole process had to do with fixing the safety issues so that you wouldnāt have the six-mile traffic back up when a truck crashes,ā Sandum said. āSecondarily [it] addressed congestion, but the focus of the fixes was safety,ā
She added ācongestion isnāt the issue on 81 like it is on 95. Safety is the issue on 81 that leads to congestion when an incident happens.ā
Virginia is expediting plans to widen I-81 in the Salem area. Last month, lawmakers agreed on a budget that appropriates $70 million in fiscal year 2025 for the project and up to $175 million from year-end revenue surpluses for the next three fiscal years.
The commonwealth is also expected to receive $42 million from the federal government for I-81 corridor improvements, but additional funding would be needed to complete them. Staff said increasing the regional fuel tax by one cent per gallon is the most feasible path to raising the money, with a potential annual revenue of $10 million.
Other funding options could include adding a regional surcharge to the stateās highway use fee or considering a user fee and other taxes for electric and fuel-efficient vehicles, including heavy EV vehicles.
by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury
Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.