Environmentalists Line up Behind Kaine on Transportation

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters, the political arm of Virginia's environmental community, lost little time in praising Tim Kaine for the transportation plan he unveiled earlier today. (The VLCV's press release arrived in the Bacon's Rebellion e-mail in-box even before Kaine's!)

Said Executive Director Lisa Guthrie: “Tim Kaine’s plan to move Virginia beyond our failed efforts to build our way out of traffic with new bypasses is innovative and economically sound. As our elected officials begin to link land use and transportation planning, we will have healthier, more stable communities and more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”

Also, said Guthrie:

The old transportation spending approach is extremely costly to taxpayers, destroys natural and rural areas, spurs sprawl development, increases air and water pollution, limits people's transportation choices, and increases energy dependence, while doing little to relieve congestion in the long run. Tim Kaine’s bold vision to tackle these challenges goes beyond just increasing transportation funding for asphalt. He has shown a willingness to carefully analyze the vital connection between land use and transportation decisions at the local and state levels.