"The state's failing network of roads and bridges, dwindling resources for construction and political intransigence toward finding long-term solutions have passed the tipping point. And, unless those things change, next year's ranking will likely be worse." 

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Third and dropping, thanks to roads

The Virginian-Pilot
© July 16, 2012 

Virginia's loss of the top spot on CNBC's latest ranking of the best states for business came as no surprise to anyone paying attention to the commonwealth's transportation woes.

The state's failing network of roads and bridges, dwindling resources for construction and political intransigence toward finding long-term solutions have passed the tipping point. And, unless those things change, next year's ranking will likely be worse.

Overall, Virginia slipped from No. 1 to No. 3, behind Texas and Utah. Compared to last year, the Old Dominion lost ground in the categories of transportation and infrastructure, education, cost of doing business, the economy, business friendliness and technology.

Of course, some of those changes were minimal - for example, Virginia dropped from second to third in terms of business friendliness, a category judged on the prevalence of regulations and litigation.

In others - work force, quality of life, cost of living and access to capital - we fared better than in 2011.

But the state's transportation and infrastructure ranking plummeted the most - 23 spots, from No. 10 to No. 33. Presumably, the study's authors pegged Virginia at 10th last year after cruising highways from Charlottesville to Roanoke. This year's ranking is more reflective of the Virginia we know.