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2006 SESSION

065409800
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 88
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 11, 2006
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the integration of transportation planning and land use planning. Report.
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Patrons-- Quayle and Herring
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, General Assembly mandated the development of a comprehensive, long-range, multi-modal transportation plan; and

WHEREAS, this long-range, multi-modal transportation plan, known as the “VTRANS 2025 Report” was developed through the assistance of a policy committee composed of the heads of each transportation agency, members of each agency board, representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, and various transportation experts; and

WHEREAS, the VTRANS 2025 Report stated that “Virginia is facing a transportation crisis due to a multi-billion dollar underinvestment in transportation funding”; and

WHEREAS, between 1992 to 2003, Virginia’s population grew by 16 percent, while the number of registered vehicles increased by 33 percent; and

WHEREAS, by 2025 an estimated 2 million more people will live in Virginia, mostly in heavily populated areas; and

WHEREAS, by 2025 freight shipments are expected to double; and

WHEREAS, since 1980 vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has increased 71 percent on the interstates, primary and secondary roads; and

WHEREAS, in Virginia there are now at least 123,960 lane miles on the Commonwealth’s highways that need to be maintained; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has the third largest state-maintained highway system in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in Virginia 28 percent of paved secondary roads are deficient; and

WHEREAS, 39 percent of the Commonwealth’s bridges are rusting; 17 percent of interstate pavements are deficient; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, only $0.73 was spent on maintenance for every dollar spent on construction; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2006-2011 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, for every dollar spent on construction, $1.08 will be spent on maintenance; and

WHEREAS, the costs associated with maintaining Virginia’s transportation infrastructure continue to escalate because (i) vehicle miles traveled continues to increase, (ii) infrastructure is aging, and (iii) the Commonwealth accepts 200 additional lane miles each year into its secondary system; and

WHEREAS, congestion not only affects highways, but other modes of transportation as well; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), running from Washington, D.C., to Manassas and Fredericksburg is the second fastest growing commuter rail system in the nation with a ridership that experiences average increases of 15 to 20 percent annually; and

WHEREAS, 42 percent of Washington, D.C.-area Metrobus riders have difficulty obtaining a seat every day; and

WHEREAS, improving the relationship between transportation planning and land use planning is an essential component of improving Virginia’s transportation infrastructure and the quality of life for its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the function of land use planning and regulation in Virginia has primarily been regarded as a major responsibility of local governments pursuant to guidelines established in state statute while the function of transportation planning in Virginia has been a shared responsibility between state agencies, local governments, various regional entities, citizens, and the private sector ; and

WHEREAS, improving the linkage between land use planning and transportation planning is a highly complex matter affecting the Commonwealth’s economic well-being and quality of life for Virginia’s citizens that will require careful thought and consideration; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the integration of transportation planning and land use planning. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 28 members that shall consist of 14 legislative members, 13 nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member. Members shall be appointed as follows: six members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; eight 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; 13 nonlegislative citizen members, with three representatives from counties to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Association of Counties, two representatives from planning district commissions to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, two representatives from the Homebuilders Association of Virginia to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, three representatives from other local governments to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Municipal League, two representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, and one representative to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from the Virginia Association of Realtors. The Secretary of Transportation or his designee shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective clerk, 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 joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall seek to identify strategies, technologies, techniques, and actions that will improve the integration of transportation and land use planning.  Specifically, the Commission shall consider the following issues:

1. Tools the state and local governments will need to assure that the transportation infrastructure is adequate to serve increasing demand caused by a growing population;

2. Institutional arrangements that should be recommended to improve state/local coordination;

3. Incentives to encourage regional and multi-modal approaches that will be necessary to address Virginia’s growing transportation problems; and

4. Ways to encourage alternative development patterns that will improve mobility through other means than motor vehicles and reduce the demands on, and the cost of maintaining, Virginia’s transportation infrastructure.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. 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 2006 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $9,100 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 Senate members or a majority of the House 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 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 2007 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 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 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 2006 interim.