Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-04
Almond Urges
New Highway
Fund Use Plan
Says Traffic Plight
OF Urbun Areas
Calls for Revision

Revision Of present methods
of distributing state highway
funds was urged last night BY
J. Lindsay Almond. FRI. Demo-
cratic nominee for Governor Of
Virginia.
Departing from the more
familiar segregation issue In
q television appearance over
Station wTrG. the Democratic
candidate declared: Urban
areas are critically In need Of
relief from trafiic congestion. !"
He said 1t was apparent. .in
view Of these changing needs,
that present laws dealing with
the ALLEGATION Of highway funds
must be reconsidered. Our
money must be spent, and our
energies must be directed. TO
those improvements Of greatest
benefit 70 the greatest number. !"
Mr.. Almond said he was
convinced that the ALLEGATION
policy Of distributing highway
revenues should be carefully re-
vised to the end that the cost
Of construction factor in the
heavily congested areas be more
equitably considered and app
Piled"
One Of the most frequently
voiced complaints in Northern
Virginia about the State gov
eminent has been the method
OF distributing State highway
funds.
Northern Virginia leaders
have protested that the present
distribution formula ignores
need. and results in too much
money going to sparsely settled
areas while urban sections fall
behind their trafiic require
ments. This complaint was
borne out in consultant reports
on Virginia's highway needs
earlier this year.
The Virginia Legislative Ad-
visory Council currently has
under consideration the POSSE
bility Of recommending a
change in the ALLEGATION for
mula.
Mr.. Almond said he believed
anticipated highway revenues
from existing sources will be
sufficient to sustain a progress
sive construction program
without the necessity for I'M
creasing gasoline or license
taxes. We oppose the resort
BY any scheme or device to
the issuance Of bonds for gen.
eral highway financing"
The consultants had rec
commended a one-cent increase
In the gasoline tax and higher
automobile registration fees.
To Seek More Industry
Touching on other subjects
Of particular interest to North /
ern Virginia, Mr.. Almond:
l. Promised to get behind eff 4
forts to attract more industry /
to the State in the interests Of 1
expanding Virginia's tax base. |
He suggested that a division of .
industrial and economic de-
yelopment be established for
this purpose within the APP
propriate department Of the
State government.
?. Called for adequate sew
age and water facilities TO re- 1
store the Potomac River to the
people as a source of water
supply and recreational play
He urged close CO.
operation between the State
and localities. and with the
governments Of surrounding
States in protecting the river.
He said careful consideration"
must be given to adequate
dams and reservoirs shat will 1
meet the future needs Of the
populace."
Mr.. Aim ond's televisIon
speech was followed by a re-
ception In his honor at the
George Mason High School in
Falls Church. The Democratic
candidate spent yesterday on I
} Misunderstanding tour Of Fair 4
FAX County and Falls Church. (
accompanied by the two DEM
Dcratic delegates, Omer Hirst
and John Webb, who are seek
ing reelection.
Mr.. Almond is touring Fair
lax and Alexandra today, and
MS Republican opponent. State
Senator Ted Dalton. moves his
campaign into the area this
afternoon. II