During the 2007 General Assembly session, legislators approved a 41 percent increase in transportation funding over the next six years. This movement was the first transportation-spending plan in 21 years that significantly increased funding.17 Secretary Pierce Homer remarked, "This program will maintain the timeline for existing projects. In absence of this funding, existing projects would be delayed or eliminated entirely."18 Despite the additional infusion of monies for transportation, the state has not added any new construction to the six-year plan due to the backlog of existing new construction demands. Additionally, public criticism may force the General Assembly to modify or repeal some of the funding schemes adopted by the General Assembly to secure this new revenue.
As of January 2007, the state faced a $450 million deficit in maintenance funds. The transportation compromise package reduced the deficit, but some believe that the state cannot sustain the reduction. Senator John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke) remarked, "It is pretty clear this is a short-term, stopgap measure and we will back in a few years to work on a long-term fix."19