First HRTA meeting

Mayor Paul Fraim of Norfolk, right, and Mayor Joe Frank of Newport News will serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. TERESSA RERRAS | SPECIAL TO THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

The Virginian Pilot reported on the first meeting of the HRTA, which was held Wednesday. Interestingly enough, the topic of conversation was citizen input.

The Hampton Roads Transportation Authority said Wednesday it will hold forums on Aug. 8 and 9, one in South Hampton Roads and one on the Peninsula. They will be followed by a third meeting on Aug. 10 in Chesapeake where the authority is expected to take up the question of raising taxes and fees.

I find that rather funny, since:

The law that created the authority does not allow the governing board to select which fees to raise. It must adopt all or none of them.

Um, OK. So mostly without citizen input the authority was created. So now they are going to listen to us on whether to impose them or not? Yeah, right.

Here’s what’s coming down the pike:

• 2% local rental car impact fee
• Ten cents per hundred on commercial real estate taxes
• Initial vehicle registration fees of 1%
• Congestion relief fee of $.40/$100 – paid by real estate sellers
• $10 annual vehicle license fee
• $10 motor vehicle inspection fee
• Auto repair exemption removal – would charge 5% sales tax
• Regional gas tax of 2%

And don’t forget the tolls. I expect everything around here will have tolls.