THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411100619
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Northern Virginia officials have asked Gov. George Allen to form a new transportation planning board for the region and abolish the agency that co-owns the Virginia commuter railroad and appoints the state's Metro Board members.
Members of the regional Transportation Planning Board said the bitter fight over Walt Disney Co.'s scrapped theme park near Haymarket demonstrates the need for a separate transportation board in northern Virginia.
The 34-member board, which has members from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, develops transportation projects for the region.
Virginia board members have complained that opposition from out-of-state members helped drive Disney away.
``We want to cooperate, and regional planning is important,'' said Fairfax County Supervisor and transportation board member Robert Dix Jr.
``But we don't think it's appropriate, and the process is intended so that someone from Maryland throws stones at a project in Virginia.''
A separate board would allow Virginia officials to make their own decisions about road and transit projects.
The arrangement would still allow the officials to consult with Maryland and District officials, Dix said.
Allen and state Secretary of Transportation Robert Martinez did not return telephone calls Wednesday seeking comment on the requests.
To create a separate board, Allen would need the approval of the governor of Maryland, the district's mayor and local officials in all three regions.
The second recommendation - abolishing the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission - was made by a commission Allen appointed to streamline Virginia's government.
``The idea is to consolidate'' the transportation planning agencies in northern Virginia, Dix said.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING BOARD
by CNB