Exporting jobs (from Hampton Roads?)

by Al Riutort

Virginia's roads and bridges are falling apart. The General Assembly refuses to raise the 17.5-cent gas tax to pay for new roads, maintenance and transit that are needed. Check out all the potholes on Interstate 64 between the airport and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and on Interstate 664 in Hampton and Newport News.

On the other hand, the Better Jacksonville program in our competitor region has had a half-cent regional sales tax that is funding new roads, bridges and port projects everywhere you look.

With the lack of investment in Virginia's infrastructure, expect more of Hampton Roads' port and business activity to move to Jacksonville and elsewhere where the transportation infrastructure is of good quality.

Al Riutort is the Director of the Department of Planning for the City of Newport News. This op-ed originally appeared in the Daily Press and is reprinted herein with the permission of the author.