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2006 SPECIAL SESSION I

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HB 5053 Special Transportation Fund for Northern Virginia; created, use of certain revenues, report.

Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Transportation; supplemental funding for Northern Virginia.  Creates a Special Transportation Fund for Northern Virginia to receive the funds dedicated to it pursuant to this bill to be used by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority solely for the purposes stated in the bill.  The bill also assures that none of the funds shall be used to calculate or reduce transportation funding to the Northern Virginia Transportation District, or be used to calculate or reduce any other funding to the localities comprising the district, including funding for education. 

The bill changes the membership and operating procedures of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority as follows:  (i) provides for two additional members from the House of Delegates; one additional member from the Senate; a mayor from a town within a county that is a member of the Authority; and the Northern Virginia Administrator for the Virginia Department of Transportation; (ii) requires that all transportation projects undertaken by the Authority shall be by private contractors accompanied by performance measurement standards; (iii) requires the Authority to avail itself of the strategies permitted under the Public-Private Transportation Act (§ 56-556 et seq.) whenever feasible and advantageous; (iv) makes the Authority  independent of any state or local entity, including the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, but the Authority and VDOT and CTB shall consult with each other to avoid duplication of efforts, and, at the option of the Authority, may combine efforts to complete specific projects; (v) requires the Authority, when determining what projects to construct, to base its decisions on equitably distributing the funds throughout the participating localities, and constructing projects that move the most people or commercial traffic in the most cost-effective manner. 

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority shall use all the revenues dedicated by the bill as follows:

1. The first $50 million received in each fiscal year through 2017 shall be distributed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to provide funds to the Authority as may be required under federal law for the payment of certain federal funds to WMATA for capital improvements. The Authority shall make such annual distribution from such revenues (i) only to the extent required under federal law for the payment of federal funds to WMATA; (ii) only if the matching federal funds are exclusive of, and in addition to, the amount of other federal funds appropriated to the Commonwealth for transportation; and (iii) only if such other federal funds are in an amount not less than the amount of such funds appropriated to the Commonwealth in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.  For each year after 2017 the first $50 million deposited into the Fund shall be used for the expansion of Metro or other rail service into Prince William County;

2. The next $30 million received in each fiscal year shall be distributed to the Virginia Railway Express for capital improvements including but not limited to construction of parking, dedicated rail on the Fredericksburg line, rolling stock, expanded service to Prince William, and service as may be needed as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission regarding Fort Belvoir.  The Authority shall make such annual distribution from such revenues only if matching state funds are appropriated;

3. At least 25% of the revenues received each year shall be dedicated for use on urban and secondary road construction and improvement.  Such funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis with each locality's share being the total recordation tax revenue newly distributed in the bill that is generated in the locality divided by the total recordation tax revenue newly distributed in the bill generated in all localities embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority;

4. At least 20% of the revenues received each year shall be distributed to the localities embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority on a pro rata basis with each locality's share being the total recordation tax revenue newly distributed in the bill that is generated in the locality divided by the total recordation tax revenue newly distributed in the bill generated in all localities embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. The revenues distributed shall be used solely for transportation capital improvements as determined solely by the applicable locality.  None of this revenue may be used to repay debt undertaken before January 1, 2007.  Each locality shall provide annually to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority sufficient documentation as required by the Authority showing that the funds were used as required;  

5. To construct a specific list of transportation projects set out in the bill;

6. Beginning at the time the second half of the Dulles Rail project is constructed, at least $20 million shall be dedicated annually for the Dulles Rail project, provided there is federal matching funds appropriated; and

7. To construct transportation projects in the localities that are members of the Authority as may be determined by the Authority in consultation with members of the governing bodies of the localities embraced by the Authority, and members of the General Assembly representing any locality embraced by the Authority. 

The bill dedicates an amount equivalent to 30 cents on every $100 of the consideration or the actual value of the property conveyed, whichever is greater, for each deed or other instrument for which a state recordation tax is imposed which is attributable to deeds and other instruments recorded in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park and the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority  for transportation purposes. 

The bill also repeals the authority for certain localities to impose a local income tax. 

The bill is effective January 1, 2007.


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