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2006 SESSION

067932796
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 59
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 10, 2006
Requesting the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study the need for improvements to public transportation in the U.S. Route 1 corridor in Northern Virginia. Report.
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Patrons-- Puller and Colgan; Delegates: Albo, Amundson, Lingamfelter, McQuigg, Parrish and Sickles
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the U.S. Route 1 corridor in Northern Virginia, home to several large and vital military installations and numerous important commercial operations and major employment centers, is highly congested; and

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

WHEREAS, current serious levels of congestion in the U.S. Route 1 corridor will shortly be further exacerbated if the recommendations of the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) are fully implemented; and

WHEREAS, implementation of the BRAC recommendations would add 21,000 personnel to the U.S. Army garrison at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County and add a further 5,000 personnel at the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico in Prince William and Stafford counties; and

WHEREAS, the funding of transit improvements should be a priority for the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, a long-term vision that includes transit-oriented economic development also is needed; and

WHEREAS, rapid transit can serve as a cost-effective and successful means of increasing travel capacity in this congested corridor; and

WHEREAS, it is important to maintain future options in the U.S. Route 1 corridor; and

WHEREAS, the study and development of a phased approach to highway, bus, bus rapid transit, light rail and other transit options that encourages compact, transit-oriented development throughout the corridor would assist the Counties of Fairfax and Prince William in their efforts to bring about pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use revitalization of U.S. Route 1; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Rail and Public Transportation be requested to study the need for improvements to public transportation in the U.S. Route 1 corridor in Northern Virginia.

In conducting its study, the Department shall project and identify overall public transportation needs in the U.S. Route 1 corridor, estimate the amount of financial and other resources required to promptly and effectively address those needs, and develop and implement necessary programs and take such actions as may be necessary and prudent.

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

The Department shall complete its study by November 30, 2006, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate 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 no later than the first day of the 2007 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.