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2007 SESSION

078129396
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 589
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled December 27, 2006
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility and desirability of constructing light rail transportation along the existing Washington and Old Dominion Rail Trail. Report.
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Patron-- Marshall, R.G.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the construction of a light rail line along the existing corridor from Shirlington, Virginia, to Purcellville, Virginia, would provide much needed rail transportation in Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, several rail stations still exist along the rail corridor; and

WHEREAS, a newly constructed light rail line could coexist with the current recreational use of the rail trail; and

WHEREAS, light rail transportation in Northern Virginia would alleviate much of the traffic congestion on the overcrowded highways in the region; and

WHEREAS, construction of light rail would aid in the Virginia Department of Transportation's goal of attaining a high level of multimodalism in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility and desirability of constructing light rail transportation along the existing Washington and Old Dominion Rail Trail. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members comprising eight legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member. Members shall be 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; one nonlegislative citizen member representing the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and one nonlegislative citizen member representing the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting 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 study the benefits and cost of the implementation of light rail transportation along the existing rail corridor and how to construct a light rail line without negatively affecting those who use the corridor for recreational purposes.

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 joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. 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 2007 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,800 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 House members or a majority of the Senate 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, 2007, 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 2008 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 the 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 2007 interim.