Questions from Michael Perkins to candidates for 47

district, Virginia House of Delegates. Alan Howze's answers below:1.Q: What’s your opinion on the Columbia Pike streetcar project? Where else do youthink we should upgrade our transit network with higher-quality service?AH: As I have walked door-to-door in the neighborhoods that will be directly impacted by the Columbia Pike streetcar project I have heard a lot of concerns about how theimplementation plan for the streetcar. While I strongly support the expansion of masstransit in our region, I believe that there are concerns about the streetcar project that needto be addressed by the Arlington County Board so that neighborhoods residents can better understand the project, its impacts, how it will be implemented and how their concernswill be addressed.2.Q: Some people believe that Bus Rapid Transit is a cheaper but just as effectivealternative to rail transit like streetcars or light rail. What’s your opinion?AH: Bus Rapid Transit is one of the transportation alternatives that should be on thetable for increasing our mass transit options in our region. There is no one right optionand the appropriateness of BRT, streetcars, and light rail should be considered on a case- by-case basis. Whatever the option, mass transit has to be the first priority for anytransportation solution for our region. We can not pave our way out of our transportation problems.3.Q: After the election, it’s possible that the House might still be controlled by a factionopposed to any tax increase. How would you work to obtain more money for transitgiven this limitation?AH: There is a growing recognition that our region’s transportation needs are particularlyacute, and the lack of adequate transportation is a drag on our regional economy, andconsequently on the state’s revenues. I believe that we have a unique opportunity tocombine federal stimulus funding with increased Virginia funding to make some realinvestments in transportation in ways that we have not seen in a generation.When I worked for Governor Warner as his political director, I worked on solving our region’s transportation needs. We passed through the legislature a regional referendum toraise additional local transportation funding. The referendum was not successful, andonly further highlighted the need for a state legislative solution that directly raises therevenue needed to make investments in transportation.I have worked on regional transportation issues, and understand the linkage betweendevelopment, transportation and quality of life. Part of the solution for our transportationneeds is making sure that we have a regional development that is clustered around masstransit. Arlington has led the way in planning growth and linking growth to access tomass transit.

How would you ensure that Virginia's transportation money is being spent in the areaswith the most pressing transportation issues, as opposed to the areas that enjoy politicalclout?AH: We have tried twice to obtain a regional transportation solution, and neither effortwas successful. I believe that solving our transportation challenges will require astatewide solution, and my experience working and living all across Virginia provides mewith a unique perspective among the candidates on how to link Arlington’s transportationneeds to the larger statewide needs. This means that transportation funding must bechanneled into mass transit in our region and that we have revenue sources that are stableenough that we can bond against them to make the significant public works investmentsin mass transit that will be required to address our needs.I have proven experience working with the State Legislature and the Governor and I will build the coalitions required not only to increase transportation funding but to provide theflexibility to allow region’s to advance the transportation solutions that are mostappropriate for their needs.4.Q: Some people believe that widening roads doesn’t reduce traffic because the wider roads will quickly become congested again. Do you believe that widening congestedroads induces more traffic to use them in the long run? If so, what do you believe is the best way to spend transportation dollars to accommodate growth?AH: We need to focus on moving people and not on moving cars. This means shiftingour emphasis from road construction to mass transit. I am opposed to widening of I-66,as I do not believe that it will relieve congestion. Rather, we need to be investing in theexpansion of the capacity of the Metro system by adding additional cars, and expandingthe reach of the system such as extending the Orange line further out the I-66 corridor.5.Q: Should localities be allowed to require LEED certification as a condition of approving rezoning, proffers or exceptions to zoning requirements?AH: The LEED certification process is a good tool but not a perfect one. I have studiedfor the LEED certification, and understand its strengths and limitations. I am notopposed to allowing localities to require stringent building standards that increase our water and energy efficiency.6.Q: If the money were spent on transportation improvements, would you support a gastax increase? If not, where do you propose to get new funding for transportation?AH: I have publicly stated my support for increasing the gas tax. The gas tax is theclosest thing to a user fee and has to be part of the transportation solution.7.Q: If taxes or fees must be increased to raise money for transportation, would you prefer to raise the fixed costs of car ownership (through increased titling or decal fees, or personal property tax), or to raise the marginal costs of operating a car (through a gas or mileage tax, or tolls)?