Del. Vivian Watts Speaks to Greenspring Residents

Del. Vivian Watts (D-39th) spoke to a room of about 50 residents Wednesday afternoon at Greenspring Community in Springfield. During her speech, Watts updated residents on transportation funding, two bills she's currently working on and answered questions from the audience.

Watts explained that the 2013 General Assembly finally passed a package for new transportation funding that will total more than $1 billion by 2017, and residents should soon see some action on improving local roads in Northern Virginia — including the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and Spring Village Drive, the entrance to the Greenspring Community.

In the past, Watts has openly expressed her concerns about the improvement in the 39th District of local roads, which includes multiple pot holes that cause damage to vehicles and minor car accidents.

During the visit, Watts also informed the audience that Northern Virginia's sales tax will increase by a full penny. However, the taxes will be "raised, kept and controlled" in the region.

Local government will focus on multiple bills in 2013, but Watts emphasized that she will be working on a texting while driving bill and a bill on the exploitation of vulnerable adults among other things.

Watts also stressed the importance of voting this year considering multiple candidates are running for lieutenant governor, attorney general and other prominent political offices in Virginia.