Archive for June, 2011

Herring Statement on Virginia Being Named “Top State for Business” by CNBC

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

State Senator Mark Herring issued the following statement today in response to Virginia being named America’s “Top State for Business” by CNBC. The Commonwealth achieved the highest point total in the history of CNBC’s rankings:

“I am extremely proud that Virginia has once again, for the fourth time in six years, been recognized as America’s ‘Top State for Business’ according to CNBC.”

“Virginia is not Washington, D.C. In Virginia, we balance our budget and control spending and, this year, we made critical investments in education, our infrastructure and economic development in order to spur job creation in the private sector. We have succeeded in keeping taxes low and our unemployment rate now stands at 6%, three points below the national average. While there is much more work ahead, all Virginians can take pride in this national honor.”

“Virginians expect their representatives to go to Richmond and make the tough decisions necessary to put Virginia on the path towards economic recovery during these turbulent times. They expect us to leave partisanship and ideology at the door and do what is right for Virginia. I believe that this recognition demonstrates that we are living up to those expectations.”

Route 7 Task Force Releases Action Plan

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Click here to download an electronic copy of “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. Please note that this is a very large file and might take a minute to download.

The Route 7 Task Force, established by State Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun & Fairfax) last September, concluded its work with the release of its action plan entitled, “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. The plan offers a set of concrete steps that can and should be taken to alleviate congestion along the Route 7 corridor, in both the short and long term.

Senator Herring formed the Task Force, comprised of fifteen business and community leaders, with the mission of exploring and prioritizing solutions aimed at alleviating congestion along the Route 7 corridor between the Town of Leesburg and the Fairfax/Loudoun border. From September 2010 through March 2011, the Task Force conducted eight meetings and heard testimony from county, state, and town officials, transportation interest groups, traffic engineers, and members of the public.

“Creating community consensus and bringing together those who have worked separately toward the same goals for years was one of the objectives I had for the Route 7 Task Force at the outset,” Herring stated. “I am proud to say that we have accomplished that goal.”

The work of the Route 7 Task Force has already paid dividends for Loudoun County. With the Task Force’s strong support, Senator Herring was able to secure state funding for the Route 7/Belmont Ridge Road interchange and the Sycolin Road overpass, two projects that were identified early on by the Task Force as top priorities for the county.

Copies of the Task Force’s plan have been sent to Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton, Delegates Joe May, Tom Rust, and Tag Greason, Chairman Scott York and the members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and Mayor Kirsten Umstattd and the members of the Leesburg Town Council.

Click here to download an electronic copy of “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. Please note that this is a very large file and might take a minute to download.