Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-17
Old Dominion Is Advised
To Retain Highway Plan
Northern Virginia
Hopes Fode for
Boost in Funds
BY MARY LOU WERNER
star star Writer

RICHMOND. Jan. IT.
Northern Virginia's hopes for .
greater share Of State highway
funds faded today. as the Gen.
eral Assembly was advised to
stick to present ALLEGATION
policies.
The recommendation came
from the Virginia Advisory
Legislative Council in a report
made public by the Governors
Office this morning.
A second VALC report, also
made public today. recon-
mended restrictions for road
side advertising along new in
terstate highways.
In the report on ALLEGATIONS,
the VALC acknowledged that
some areas appear to be short
changed. The report said:
I'VE are cognizant Of the
problem faced by those districts
in which rapidly increasing
population and high construc-
ton costs occur. placing the
district at a relative disad-
vantage"
But any change in the method
Of distributing primary or Sec
ondary funds was rejected for
the time being. Regarding pr.
mary funds. the report com.
mented that the full effect Of
the Federal interstate highway
program could not yet be de-
termined.
See Equity In Plan
Under these circumstances,
We do not feel that any major
change in the formulas for the
ALLEGATION Of primary highway
funds at this time is desirable"
the VALC said. The present
system has been in effect for
many years and although there
are some admitted discrepancies
in the sufhciencies of the funds
which have been available to
the several construction dis
tricts. We believe that substan.
tial equity has been achieved"
There appeared to be wider
variation" between counties in
the distribution Of secondary
road money. the VALC ac-
knowledged.
However. no more satisfac-
tory formula than the present
one has been presented to US
and we are of the opinion that
on the secondary road system
the present factors are a rough
measure Of actual need" the
report continued.
II a current study within
the highway department re-
suits in any suggested changes.
we commend it to he serious
consideration of the General
Assembly" the VALC said.
Primary funds are distributed
among the construction dis
tricts according to population,
mileage and area. The distri-
button of secondary funds is
based on these same three fac
tors, plus traffic volume. In
both cases. the population is
based on the last official census.
which penalties rapidly-grow-
ing areas.
Traffic Volume Stressed
Northern Virginia legislators
have been striving for greater
on traffic volume and
highway needs in the distri-
button of both primary and
secondary funds. They had
hoped the VALC would recon-
mend some change in view Of a
consultants' report which cited
deficiencies in the present ar
rangement.
The VALC proposal would
ban all advertising within 500
feet Of interstate highways
with certain exceptions. These
exceptions include:
/. Advertisement for business
establishments offering essen
tial services to motorists could
be erected within one mile Of
lnterchangeS. No establishment
would be allowed to advertise
more than 10 miles away, could
not have more than four signs,
and could not have a sign ex-
ceeding 300 square feet In area.
2. Signs advertising scenic or
historic places would be per-
anywhere. whether those
places are operated CONNER
cially or as public shrines.
3. For sale" signs would be
permitted on property actually
up for sale.