Stimpson blasts Virginia's public-private deals

STAFFORD, Va. – Virginia’s use and alleged misuse of public-private partnerships for road construction is fueling a high-octane Republican state House race, with the speaker’s seat at stake.

House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Falmouth, is facing a primary challenge from former Stafford County Supervisor Susan Stimpson, who accuses GOP leaders of favoring corporate partnerships at taxpayer expense.

“The General Assembly’s public-private partnership deals, have developed a pattern of negotiating most of the financial risk on Virginia taxpayers,” Stimpson said of recent road projects.

“The new HOT (high-occupany toll) lanes are an example of this. If the tolls do not reach the agreed upon revenue levels, then the taxpayers must kick in tax dollars to offset that shortfall.”

Stimpson cited the much-maligned and unbuilt section of Route 460 that was to link Suffolk and Petersburg. Critics called the aborted public-private venture a road to nowhere.

“Virginia has spent $300 million without turning over one piece of dirt. Governor (Terry) McAuliffe immediately nixed the project once he came into office, and It is estimated that it could cost up to $900 million just to cancel it,” Stimpson told Watchdog.org.

“Virginians have received nothing for this boondoggle and we still sit in traffic.”

Howell counters that public-private partnerships are “an integral part of Virginia’s efforts to build a 21st-century transportation network.”

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