The desperate effort to immediately restore $300 million in transportation funding for Northern Virginia faces major obstacles as key state leaders bicker over raising state gas taxes.

A requirement by Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Springfield, that any fix include a statewide gas tax to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in other lost transportation dollars have roiled an already adversarial debate this week.

Democratic leaders are seeking a tax plan for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads that forces the General Assembly to approve the taxes, while Republican lawmakers favor having local governments in the areas adopt the taxes and fees.

“Right now, we’re nowhere,” Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax said, blaming the gas tax proposal. “It would be very easy to just fix the problems created by the Supreme Court, but Democrats are trying to use the issue to force a statewide gas tax increase.”

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Gov. Tim Kaine said Wednesday there is no reason to believe a solution cannot be found in a month.

“What the General Assembly will have to do is stay at the table and give us a solution,” Kaine said. “There is a sense of urgency to get something done.”

The plan to raise gas taxes to pay for roads maintenance makes sense, but is facing “intransigent” opposition in the House of Delegates, Kaine said.

Lawmakers from both parties said a special session is assured if they do not move toward a special resolution beginning today.

“We’re three days away from adjourning sine die and there’s no consensus of how we’re moving forward on this,” Del. Jeff Frederick, R-Woodbridge, said Wednesday, adding he is not optimistic the problems can be solved.

The General Assembly session is scheduled to end Saturday.

The stakes are enormous, with Northern Virginia reeling from the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision to rule its first infusion of new tax money for transportation projects unconstitutional.

“Transportation funding at this point for Northern Virginia needs urgent General Assembly action or it could be months, if not years, before there is any kind of relief for commuters,” said Falls Church Councilman David Snyder, a former Northern Virginia Transportation Authority chairman.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com