GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

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and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation

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3. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.

TO THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES:

HOUSE BILL NO. 408

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 408, which would have prematurely required costly transportation changes relating to the use of steel plates in road maintenance prior to the completion of an important study of the issue. The bill also would have imposed unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on transportation professionals, thereby wasting the limited resources we have for transportation improvements.

It does not make good business sense to require implementation of a new standard for steel plates, concurrently conduct a study of best practices relating to steel plate usage, and then require everyone to change their standards to adapt to the recommendations from the study. It is inconceivable that such inefficiency and waste of public tax dollars could be seen as a good policy.

I proposed a common-sense amendment to expedite the study of best practices by the Virginia Transportation Research Council, and then require new safety and reflectivity standards for steel plates based on the findings and recommendations of the Research Council. Unfortunately, my amendment was rejected by Delegate Welch and the House of Delegates.

I support a timely analysis of best practices relating to the use of steel plates in road maintenance, and then implementation of high standards to protect the health and safety of the traveling public.