Evening star., 1953-11-13
ArIinqton's Dilemma

The report of the Virginia State Highway
Department on secondary road fund ALLEGATIONS
among the counties poses an interesting prob
lem for Arlington County. The study ordered
by the 1852 General Assembly, reveals that
Arlington will lose more than 100000 this year
In State road money because of the county's
decision in 1882 to stay out of the States Sec
ondary road program Conditions have changed
over the years. The ALLEGATION formula which
was fair for Arlington in 1892 no longer gives
the county proper share of the road money
What to do about correcting this inequity is the
big question now.
When the State, under the Byrd road plan
took over most of the county roads in Virginia
any county wishing to continue its own road
building was given authority to do so, with the
assurance that such counties would continue to
receive State road funds according to certain
formula. The formula took into account four
factors: Area, population, road mileage and
vehicle mileage. Arlington and Henrico Coun-
ties elected to remain outside the Byrd system.
One consideration in Arlington, of course was
the county governments desire to avert the
Scrapping of it's long established road depart
ment-a consideration that had political as well
as economic aspects.
AS ArlingtonS population muShroomed dur
ing and after World War II, however, it became
apparent that the States fixed formula for allo-
eating road funds was not elastic enough to
cover the tremendous increases in traffic (vehi-
Gle mileage) that were recorded month by
month With no system of periodic traffic
counts provided for counties outside the State
system, the State Highway Department has
applied to Arlington an estimate of vehicle
mileage based on average figures for the State
as whole. That this estimate is far too low is
evident from the study just made by the COM
wis TODD to- Ar1;,
ton, as indicated by recent traffic counts, we're
employed in the formula, the county's allotment
of secondary road funds would Jump this year
from $491 400 to more than 100000.
There is very simple way for Arlington to
remedy this situation without resort to the Leg
islature. The 1882 act provided authority for
any county to return to the State maintained
secondary road program at any time-by vote
of it's residents. Thus. Arlington automatically
could be included in the State program and,
presumably, would benefit from up-to-date
State traffic surveys in the county. But, If
Arlington should vote to let the State build all
its roads, it would have to abolish its Sizeable
highway engineering and maintenance depart
ment. A lot of county personnel would be voted
out of their jobs.
There is an alternative that may find favor.
This would be to appeal to the Assembly for
authority to revise the fixed-formula arrange
ment so as to give Arlington full benefit of traf
f1c increases from year to year. The proposal
might not be received enthusiastically at Rich
mond, however, since larger share of road
money for Arlington would mean proportion
ately smaller slice for the other counties In any
event. action in Arlington's dilemma ought to
be deferred until completion of the special
study of Northern Virginia's traffic problems by
legislative advisory group appointed by the
past Assembly.