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2000 SESSION

004697820
HOUSE BILL NO. 495
Offered January 18, 2000
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 33.1-13.2 and 33.1-49.1, relating to design and construction of Interstate Highway System projects.
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Patrons-- Landes, Black, Blevins, Cranwell, Crittenden, Darner, Drake, Dudley, Griffith, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Katzen, Keister, Kilgore, Larrabee, Louderback, Moran, Phillips, Reid, Rhodes, Robinson, Ruff, Sherwood, Shuler, Stump, Tate, Thomas, Weatherholtz, Wilkins and Woodrum; Senators: Edwards, Hanger, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Potts, Puckett and Trumbo
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 33.1-13.2 and 33.1-49.1 as follows:

§ 33.1-13.2. Interstate System interchanges and exit control.

No provision concerning 300-foot access control contained in the publication "A Policy on Design Standards - Interstate" shall be enforced as to any highway within the Interstate System when such enforcement would cause the acquisition through the power of eminent domain of privately owned property and improvements having a fair market value of more than $100,000.

§ 33.1-49.1. Exit access to Interstate System.

The design and construction of each portion of the Interstate Highway System within the Commonwealth shall be subject to criteria best suited to conform to the particular needs of the locality in which that portion of the System is located. Specifically, such design criteria shall have minimal adverse economic, social, or environmental effects, and the final decisions on any project shall: (i) be made in the best overall public interest and avoid destruction or disruption of manmade facilities and services and (ii) eliminate or minimize (a) adverse economic effects, (b) tax and property value losses, (c) injurious displacement of residences, businesses, and farms, and (d) disruption of desirable community and regional growth. No business located within 300 feet of the exit on any highway in the Interstate System shall be acquired through the power of eminent domain for the sole purpose of any Interstate System access control construction project.