SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2006 SPECIAL SESSION I

  • | print version

HB 5072 Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; created, report.

Introduced by: S. Chris Jones | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Transportation; Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; supplemental funding for Hampton Roads.  Creates the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (Authority) for the Counties of Isle of Wight, James City, and York and the Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg to determine, administer, and fund transportation projects.  The bill also authorizes and dedicates various revenue sources to the Authority. 

The Authority may impose and collect tolls in amounts established by the Authority for the use of any new or improved highway, bridge, tunnel, or transportation facility (including, at some future time if certain conditions are met, new construction relating to, or improvements to, the bridges, tunnels, roadways, and related facilities known collectively as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel) constructed by the Authority or with funds provided in whole or in part by the Authority. 

The bill permits any county or city that is a member of the Authority, to impose additional local fees to be used by the Authority for transportation projects in the localities. The additional local fees include (i) a "Hampton Roads Transportation Improvement Fee" on annual vehicle registrations as follows: $30 for passenger cars and pickup trucks; $40 for panel trucks; $20 for trailers; $15 for motorcycles; $25 per axle for trucks; and $12 for all other vehicles; (ii) a "Hampton Roads Transportation Improvement Initial Registration Fee" at the time the vehicle is first registered in the locality at the rate of 0.75% of the value of the vehicle; (iii) a transient occupancy tax of 5% of the charge for the room; and (iv) rental car transportation impact fee of 2%. 

The bill also dedicates an amount equivalent to 20 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 Counties of Isle of Wight, James City, and York and the Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg to the Authority for transportation purposes. 

The Authority shall use the revenues authorized and dedicated by bill solely to undertake those transportation projects that are currently included in the federally mandated 2030 Regional Transportation Plan approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization, or any successive plan, and that are located in, or which provide a benefit to, the counties and cities that are members of the Authority. The Authority shall phase construction of the transportation projects that are currently included in the federally mandated 2030 Regional Transportation Plan.  Except as specifically provided herein, projects listed in the second phase shall not be undertaken until the Authority has determined that there is a viable plan of construction for the projects listed in the first phase that meet the requirements of this section.

First Phase Projects:

Route 460 Upgrade; 1-64 Widening on the Peninsula; 1-64 Widening on the Southside; Midtown Tunnel/MLK Extension; Southeastern Parkway/Dominion Blvd; I-664 Widening in Newport News; 1-664 Widening on the Southside; 1-664 Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel Widening.

Second Phase Projects:

1-64 to the Intermodal Connector; I-564 Connector to the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel; Craney Island Connector. 

The bill provides that no locality shall be a member of the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority if it does not impose all the new taxes and fees authorized by the bill. 

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel facilities shall become subject to the control of the Authority at such time as all of the bonds and other evidences of debt now or hereafter issued by or on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission have been satisfied or paid in full.  The bill places certain conditions on the issuance of bonds in the future by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission.  At such time as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel facilities come under the control of the Authority, the Counties of Accomack and Northampton shall become members of the Authority, provided that they impose all of the new fees and taxes authorized by the bill. 

The bill is effective January 1, 2007, and only if at least four of the localities that are members of the Authority have adopted and ordinance imposing all the new fees and taxes authorized by the bill.


FULL TEXT

HISTORY