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2000 SESSION

006285660
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 154
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on February 11, 2000)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Callahan)
Establishing the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation to advise the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor on efforts to address interstate transportation issues in the Metropolitan Washington Region.

WHEREAS, residents in the Metropolitan Washington Region, particularly those in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, face the second longest daily commutes in the United States, with only Los Angeles area residents spending more time each day commuting to work; and

WHEREAS, residents in the Metropolitan Washington Region have the highest per-capita income lost due to transportation gridlock and pay nearly $1,260 per-capita in congestion costs due to the effects of traffic congestion; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2020, trips to or from work will increase by 2.5 million per day, for a total of 6.1 million trips per day, with suburb-to-suburb work trips accounting for three of every four work trips; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2020, traffic volumes across existing bridges in the Metropolitan Washington Region will carry more than 400,000 trips above design capacity each day, yet Virginia and Maryland have had difficulty agreeing on new or expanded bridge crossings in the region; and

WHEREAS, key transportation improvements in the Metropolitan Washington Region, including new and expanded bridge crossings, transit expansions, and the enhancement of the regional road network, are interstate in nature and will require cooperation among officials from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, Congress currently is considering legislation to improve regional cooperation among Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia on regional transportation issues; and

WHEREAS, such legislation can be effective only with the support of the General Assemblies of both Virginia and Maryland; and

WHEREAS, although there is frequent and beneficial coordination among executive branch officials and local government officials in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, greater participation of state legislative leaders in these jurisdictions is needed to ensure improved transportation and mobility for residents of the Metropolitan Washington Region, particularly residents of Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation be established. The Commission shall advise the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor on efforts to address interstate transportation issues in the Metropolitan Washington Region.

The Commission shall be composed of eleven members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates, of whom two shall be members of the House Committee on Transportation, two shall be members of the House Committee on Appropriations, and two shall be members of the House Committee on Finance, to be appointed by the Speaker, in accordance with the principles of Rule 16 of the Rules of the House of Delegates; and four members of the Senate, of whom two shall be members of the Senate Committee on Transportation and two shall be members of the Senate Committee on Finance, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and the Secretary of Transportation.

The President of the Maryland State Senate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates are requested to appoint an equal number of representatives from their respective chambers, in accordance with the appointment procedures of the respective chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, to serve on the Commission. The Mayor of the District of Columbia is requested to designate an appropriate Cabinet or Department level official to represent the Mayor's Office to serve on the Commission. The Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia is requested to designate two members of Council to serve on the Commission. The Commission shall elect two co-chairmen from among its members, one each from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the members of the Commission shall work cooperatively to identify barriers to and opportunities for improved transportation links between Virginia and Maryland, and the District of Columbia, including, but not limited to, new or expanded bridge crossings and transit services. The Commission shall avoid duplication of effort with existing public bodies, such as the Transportation Planning Board for the National Capital Area. In addition, the co-chairmen of the Commission may appoint a citizen advisory committee comprised of representatives of area local governments, local chambers of commerce and related business groups, AAA Potomac, citizens associations, and environmental organizations.

The Virginia Department of Transportation shall provide staff support to the Commission. The Maryland Department of Transportation is requested to work cooperatively with the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide staff support for the Commission's work.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 12,500.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, to the Governor and 2001 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, and to the Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.