Bob McDonnell has a number of defenders on this blog. While I have sometimes criticized the prosecution against him, I will never count myself among said defenders – and the US460/tax increase debacle is easily the biggest reason why.
It was during the debate over the McDonnell tax hike (or, as I have called it, Plan ’13 From Outer Space) that the $1.4 billion plan to build a parallel road to US460 became a statewide topic for discussion. There were already questions surrounding the proposed road (including why it was necessary given the relatively little traffic presently on 460 – to which I can attest personally).
What was less well known at the time was that the McDonnell Administration had already closed the deal for the road to be built, and that the Army Corps of Engineers had already raised red flags about building a parallel road (as opposed to improving the existing one). As the objections continued, the McDonnell team – I kid you not – tried to strong-arm the Corps (Virginian-Pilot).
For those of us who have followed it closely (including watching in horror as $300 million went out the door for a road that will never be built), this is a bigger deal than anything dealing with Mr. Williams, and a much larger stain on McDonnell’s record and his character.
Today, the Democrat who succeeded him will get an unusual gift (yet another McDonnell legacy): he gets to look more transparent and more frugal (Suffolk News-Herald):
In a conference call with reporters on Monday, state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said improving 17 miles of the 55-mile road between Suffolk and Petersburg has been identified as a “potential recommended preferred alternative that appears to be the least environmentally damaging, practicable alternative.”
It would involve a new four-lane divided highway from the Suffolk Bypass to west of Windsor, with a new bypass to the north of Windsor.
Thereafter, the existing road would be upgraded to just west of Zuni, including a new bridge across the Blackwater River.
The total distance is 17 miles, and the estimated cost would be between $375 million and $425 million.
So, Governor McAuliffe – yes, that’s right, Terry freaking McAuliffe can now claim he should be able to save roughly $700 million in taxpayer money (it would have been $1 billion, had the aforementioned $300 million not already left). In fact, the only thing stopping the Democrats from a PR slam-dunk is…McDonnell’s contractor (US 460 Mobility Partners) blowing up the whole thing (same link):
How Mobility Partners reacts could be critical to whether the project advances, according to Layne. If its deal with the state falls apart, the state may end up paying out bondholders, and the road may not be built.
Complain about the Star Scientific trial all you want, but this was the real scandal of the McDonnell Administration, and it could hurt the party for years to come.
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