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2004 SESSION

042275796
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 39
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 13, 2004
Requesting the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study the feasibility of various light rail transit options in the U.S. Route 1 corridor between the Springfield Metrorail station and Fort Belvoir. Report.
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Patron-- Puller
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, U.S. Route 1 in Northern Virginia is congested and dangerous; and

WHEREAS, Fort Belvoir has closed several strategic local highways for national security reasons; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation has extensively studied U.S. Route 1 for the purpose of increasing its vehicular capacity and bus rapid transit; and

WHEREAS, rising cost of right-of-way acquisition, pedestrian hazards, and general cost factors have rendered widening of U.S. Route 1 unfeasible and engendered considerable public opposition; and

WHEREAS, two dozen urban areas in the United States now use light rail transit with great success to move people and achieve more compact, transit-oriented economic growth; and

WHEREAS, light rail transit is the most cost-effective and successful form of public transportation short of more costly heavy rail rapid transit; and

WHEREAS, by using a single track system in the median of U.S. Route 1, right-of-way acquisition can be kept to an acceptable minimum; and

WHEREAS, a preliminary engineering and cost feasibility study is needed to verify the feasibility of light rail transit in the U.S. Route 1 corridor and also build public support and identify funding sources for construction; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, in cooperation with Fairfax County, be directed to study the feasibility of various light rail transit options in the U.S. Route 1 corridor between the Springfield Metrorail station and Fort Belvoir. The specific objectives of the study shall be to determine various alignment options and consider issues related to existing property frontage, location of passing tracks, location of light rail transit vehicle maintenance and storage facilities, right-of-way acquisition requirements, projected patronage, estimated light rail transit vehicle fleet size, estimated design and construction costs, and related issues.

In conducting its study, the Department's goal shall be to assist Fairfax County in its efforts to bring about pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use revitalization of the U.S. Route 1 corridor by bringing about light rail transit service from the Springfield Metrorail Station to Fort Belvoir.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department for this study, upon request.

The Department shall complete its work by November 30, 2004, and the Director of the Department shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Department intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.