Delegate Charniele Herring Stands Up in Bipartisan Support for Transportation
Delegate Herring voted today in support of SB1446 as it will include funds for a much needed ramp leading to the BRAC-133 site at Mark Center. While she prefers the version of SB1446 passed by the Senate, Delegate Herring stood up today to show bipartisan support for the Governor's Transportation Plan. She plans to advocate for a final version of the bill that will not pull money from the General Fund which could be used for education, public saftey and health programs.
Proposed Ramp for BRAC-133 at Mark Center
Delegate Charniele Herring (D-46) voted today in support of SB1446, the Senate version of the Governor’s Transportation Plan; though changes have been made in the House in committee Herring voted for the measure in a show of bipartisan support. After working with officials from VDOT and the City of Alexandria, Delegate Herring is pleased to vote for a transportation measure that will address infrastructure and traffic congestion concerns for her district with the opening of the BRAC 133 facility at Mark Center off of I-395 and Seminary road in Alexandria City.
“I was initially opposed to the Governor’s Transportation Plan because it ignored the immediate needs of my district while planning to fund 900 other transportation projects. I am pleased to be able to support a more responsible transportation plan that will ease the congestion in my community, especially with the BRAC-133 facility opening in September, said Herring “I understand that in order for this to be an optimal plan, it will need to go through the conference committee process to ensure that projects are funded and education is protected. I know that the version I am voting for today will not be the final version, but working together in a bipartisan way will allow us to take a step forward to the final plan.”
Delegate Herring has been working for a direct access ramp to the BRAC-133 facility at Mark Center since her election in January 2009. In addition to meeting with members of the Congressional delegation, Delegate Herring has consistently met with VDOT officials as well as worked with city government in Alexandria. In 2010 she started a regional work-group on the effects of the BRAC facility. Beginning September 2011, 6,400 people will relocate their place of work to the BRAC-133 facility at Mark Center. On February 12 at an Alexandria City Council Meeting, VDOT finally gave public assurances on building this direct access ramp with funding coming from the restructured GARVEE bonds in the proposed Governor’s Transportation Plan. With the support of the Alexandria City Council, Delegate Herring plans to vote for SB1446 and bring bi-partisan support in the House to the Governor’s Plan.
Delegate Herring said, “I have concerns about speeding up the issuance of the significant debt this plan will have us undertake, and in no way do I support taking money which should go to education and public health and putting it elsewhere; however, today we need to stand together as Virginians and recognize the serious state of our roads and highways. I have every confidence that when the conference process for the transportation plan is complete we will have a plan that not only addresses our critical transportation needs, but will also ensure that education and public health are not robbed of potential funding after years of cuts. I look forward toward future debate on how we can better stabilize transportation funding.”
Herring represents the 46th District which includes the West End of Alexandria and parts of Falls Church. She serves on the Science and Technology Committee and the Courts of Justice Committee where she holds a position as the Democratic Committee Whip. Since 2009 she has advocated for her constituents and worked to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
