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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 194
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the transportation network of Hampton Roads. Report.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 11, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, March 4, 2008

 

WHEREAS, the transportation network of Hampton Roads is vital to the region's economy and the quality of life of the area's residents; and

WHEREAS, both the geography and the demographics of Hampton Roads present transportation planners and managers with challenges that are unique to the region; and

WHEREAS, while the transportation needs of Hampton Roads are considerable, the financial and other resources with which these needs may be addressed are, by comparison, quite limited; and

WHEREAS, it is therefore vital that a careful study of the Hampton Roads transportation network and the improvements thereto necessary to address current and future needs, including the setting goals and the ordering of priorities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the transportation network of Hampton Roads. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 10 members to be appointed as follows: six 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 and four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall solicit from local government officials, the business community, and the general public comments, suggestions, and other information necessary or convenient to an assessment of the present and future transportation needs of the region and the steps by which those needs may be most appropriately and efficiently addressed. In particular, the joint subcommittee shall consider construction projects considered or approved by the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, including but not limited to improvements to and expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and, through use of modeling and simulations, assess the need for and relative priority of all such projects.

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. 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 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000 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, 2008, 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 2009 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 2008 interim.