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2005 SESSION

053471404
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 742
Offered January 12, 2005
Establishing the Free Market Ideas in Transportation Commission. Report.
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Patron-- Wardrup
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, a safe, efficient, convenient, and adequate transportation system is essential to a prosperous economy for the Commonwealth and the well-being of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, it is essential that Virginia's transportation program be as well-managed, efficient, and cost-effective as possible; and

WHEREAS, to achieve this goal, it is highly desirable to discover, understand, and implement best practices in transportation planning, construction, operation, and management not only from throughout the United States but around the world as well; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That there be established the Free Market Ideas in Transportation Commission. The Commission shall have 13 members, appointed as follows:  five 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; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; three nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and two nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The nonlegislative citizen members shall be chosen from among experts in transportation productivity enhancement and cost-saving innovation, local government officials, and others with transportation or transportation financing expertise. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Commission shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the Commission and the Clerk of the House of Delegates, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall:

1. Examine documented cost savings in Texas, Florida, New Zealand, and elsewhere;

2. Identify recent cost savings in Virginia and the potential for additional near-term savings, including but not limited to technology, devolution/localization, retraining/cross-training of staff, maintenance, construction, environmental services, engineering services, etc;

3. Examine legalities and commercial impacts of private concessions at highway rest areas and Virginia Railway Express stations;

4. Review sale of freeways in Illinois, Ontario, and elsewhere;

5. Identify any current and planned transportation projects that could be financed in whole or in part with toll and other direct user fees;

6. Review available data related to advertising on state-owned assets, such as vehicles, rest areas, and other possibilities;

7. Review out-bidding of commuter rail operations in Los Angeles, Boston, Stockholm, and elsewhere;

8. Evaluate available data regarding evolving technologies enabling more cost-effective toll collection;

9. Recommend near-term prospects for variable congestion-priced toll road facilities;

10. Examine concrete milestones and incentives for internally generated savings within the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), such as rewards for continuing drawdowns of maximum employment levels (MEL) with the allocating of some amount of savings to pay-for-performance pools, the use of which to be predicated on measurable VDOT accomplishments, such as decreased accident rates and reduced congestion;

11. Analyze use of local entrepreneurs, especially in rural areas where farmers own equipment that could be used for mowing, snow removal, and drainage maintenance;

12. Identify impediments to local assumption of responsibility for transportation programs; and

13. Study the composition, membership qualifications, and oversight role of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

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 Commission shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall be limited to four meetings for the 2005 interim and four meetings for the 2006 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000 for each year without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the Commission and the Clerk of the House of Delegates.  If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

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

The Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2005, and for the second year by November 30, 2006, 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 next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports 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 or 2006 interim.