Transportation Outlook Grim
The ailing economy has been affecting industries throughout the country for some time now, and the transportation prognosis for Northern Virginia appears poor, according to the state’s transportation chief.
Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer provided business leaders and local officials a grim assessment of the future of transportation in Virginia at a June 3 meeting sponsored by the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
“We are approaching a cliff,” Secretary Homer said, according to the NVTA Web site. “If we don’t act quickly (to address the transportation funding crisis), Virginia’s prosperity will go elsewhere.”
Local media reports indicate that even as his agency has implemented layoffs and severe cuts in the operations budget and state’s six-year transportation improvement fund, it faces further financial shortfalls as federal and state revenues continue to decline.
In his speech, Secretary Homer noted that the lack of state funds means the state will:
- lose jobs because it can’t attract majory employers with transportation improvements
- continue to suffer congestion woes
lose federal transportation dollars because it can’t match federal funds - lose private transportaion money because it can’t attract public private transportation partnerships
To view Secretary Homer’s presentation, visit the NVTA Web site at www.nvta.org.
Destinations: Fabbioli Cellars, Lost Creek Winery
If you’ve sworn off dessert wines as syrupy concoctions that remind you of cough medicines, Fabbioli Cellars’ Raspberry Merlot is the wine to change your mind. You’ll get the opportunity to sample this award-winning red blend during Reston Limousine’s Public Wine Tour on Sunday, June 21.
The first winery on the tour, Fabbioli Cellars, is a boutique winery owned and operated by Doug Fabbioli and Colleen Berg. Located in the southern Lucketts area, the winery produces high quality reds including a Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Tre Sorelle (a Bordeaux style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot), Cabernet Sauvignon, and the lauded Raspberry Merlot.
Your next stop 2 ½ miles north is Lost Creek Winery and Vineyard, owned and operated by Bob and Carol Hauck. Lost Creek grows a diverse collection of varietals, including Niagra, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel. You’ll get the chance to sample their wide variety of reds, whites and specialties, but pay particular attention to their signature wines a Vidal Blanc and Merlot.
Cost: $35 per person (does not include tasting fees or gratuity)
Lunch options: A catered box lunch from Atlanta Bread. Co. is available for purchase for $15
To book this tour and to request more information, please call Reston Limousine at 703-478-0500 Option 1.