On Aug. 21, the Board of Directors for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce passed a motion in support of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ directive to begin evaluation and analysis of a Mobility Bond. The Chamber Board added its request that the business community be a part of the overall process.
The vote comes after a presentation from Tom Blaser, the former Transportation Department Director for Prince William County, and NVTA Chairman Marty Nohe gave to the Chamber’s Policy Committee on Aug. 15 on the how the County got involved with Road Bonds in the 1980s, the 2006 Road Bond measure and what a “Mobility Bond” would look like in the future. The vote gives direction to the Chamber Director of Government Relations, Ross Snare, and the Chamber’s leadership to begin working with the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and County Staff to evaluate and analyze a Mobility Bond Referendum that would appear on the 2020 Ballot.
“In 2006 the voters in Prince William County voted overwhelmingly in support of the $300 million Road Bond. The Chamber and business community here in Prince William understand the importance of investing in much needed infrastructure. Not only is it a safe investment, it will create new jobs and will help attract more businesses to the region. These are projects focused on economic development that the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Commonwealth Transportation Board just cannot fund. Their main focus is and needs to be congestion relief. The County, which already has the most robust Transportation Department for a local government in the state, can step in to fill the gaps.” said Mr. Snare.
“The County has seen an influx of over 110,000 people since the last Bond was approved, and projections only have it growing even more,” stated Betty Dean, Chair of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. “It’s time to start looking toward the future. There are projects that need to be completed if we are going to be competitive economically. Giving the County the ability to invest in our infrastructure can ensure that we are prepared for whatever the future may bring.”
Over the next several weeks, the Prince William Chamber will begin engaging members of the Board of County Supervisors and business community to begin the discussion process.
