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2005 SESSION

059143388
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 663
Offered January 12, 2005
Prefiled January 11, 2005
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of constructing an eastern bypass of I-95 in order to relieve traffic congestion around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Report.
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Patron-- Marrs
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the heightened threat of terrorism makes it imperative that the citizens and visitors of Washington, D.C., metropolitan area be able to quickly evacuate in the case of another terror alert; and

WHEREAS, the traffic congestion around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area continues to swell making it increasingly more difficult and more dangerous to live, work in, and visit the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; and

WHEREAS, a bypass from central Virginia to U.S. 50 in Maryland would greatly help to ameliorate the congestion and the problems associated with traffic congestion in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; and

WHEREAS, key transportation improvements in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area are interstate in nature and will require the cooperation of officials from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the federal government; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility of constructing an eastern bypass of I-95 in order to relieve traffic congestion around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The joint subcommittee shall consist of 10 members:  six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates and four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall study the feasibility of cooperating with Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the federal government in planning an eastern by-pass of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and make recommendations on (i) where the eastern by-pass could intersect I-95 to the south and to the north of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; (ii) where a bridge spanning the Potomac River might be located; (iii) locations of interchanges; (iv) whether interchanges should be limited in number to protect localities from sprawl or environmental concerns; (v) whether the bypass should be tolled; and (vi) whether the project could be done under the PPTA, either in whole or in part.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2005 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 5,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2005, and the chairman 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 2006 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee 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.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2005 interim.