OOIDA Information Update - Virginia Members
November 15, 2005

Gov.-elect Tim Kaine has scheduled a series of "town hall" meetings to come up with a transportation plan for the General Assembly session that starts in January. The first meeting is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Roanoke.

Kaine promised during his campaign that he would listen to input about transportation needs from citizens, transportation experts and elected officials across the state.

He also expressed his support for widening Interstate 66 inside the Beltway and for building rail transit to Dulles International Airport.

Kaine said the five town meetings would make up "the first round" of a series of public forums on transportation leading up to his Jan. 14, 2006, inauguration.

According to Kaine's campaign Web site, he advocates "continuing to seek creative public-private partnerships" to allow the state to "kick-start important projects like widening I-66 west of the Beltway" and other roadwork.

Kaine recently reiterated his pledge not to pursue new sources of tax revenue. He also expressed his readiness to use a veto if necessary to prevent transportation funds from being used for other purposes.

Meeting dates and locations are:

• Roanoke: 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Virginia Transportation Museum, 303 Norfolk Ave.
• Newport News: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive.
• Henrico County: 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Virginia Aviation Museum, 5701 Huntsman Road, Richmond International Airport.
• Manassas: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, Manassas Airport Main Terminal, 10400 Terminal Rd.
• Bristol: 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, Virginia Intermont College, Trayer Theatre in the Fine Arts Center, 1013 Moore St.