Department of Rail and Public Transportation (505)

Authority: Titles 33.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.

A.1. Except as provided in Item 440, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate all monies in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. The total appropriation for the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund is $152,552,684 the first year and $157,073,990 the second year from the Transportation Trust Fund.  From these funds, the following estimated allocations shall be made:

a. $114,087,563 the first year and $117,334,290 the second year to statewide Formula Assistance as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. The allocation of Formula Assistance to each recipient shall be limited to the recipient’s maximum eligibility as defined in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. When the initial allocation to a recipient is greater than the recipient’s eligibility to receive Formula Assistance, the Commonwealth Transportation Board may transfer the surplus funds to the statewide Capital Assistance program for distribution under that program. The Commonwealth Transportation Board may hold harmless from a reduction in state formula assistance any transit system that maintains service levels from the previous year.

b. $31,128,865 the first year and $32,233,194 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to statewide Capital Assistance.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph A.1.a and A.1.b. of this Item, prior to the annual adoption of the Six-Year Improvement Program, the Commonwealth Transportation Board may allocate funding from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to implement the transit and transportation demand management improvements identified for the I-95 corridor.  Such costs shall include only direct transit capital and operating costs as well as transportation demand management activities.  Costs associated with additional park and ride lots required to be funded by the Commonwealth under the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Interstate 95 High Occupancy Toll Lanes project shall be borne by the Department of Transportation as set out in Item 446 of this act.

2. Included in this Item is $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Trust Fund. These allocations are designated for “paratransit” capital projects and enhanced transportation services for the elderly and disabled.

3. From the amounts appropriated in this Item from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, $1,867,731 the first year and $1,933,991 the second year is the estimated allocation to statewide Special Programs as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia.

4. Not included in this appropriation is an amount estimated at $26,243,763 the first year and $26,728,838 the second year allocated to transit agencies from federal sources for the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Minimum Guarantee program.

B. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall operate a program entitled the Transportation Efficiency Improvement Fund (TEIF). The purpose of the TEIF program is to reduce traffic congestion by supporting transportation demand management programs and projects designed to reduce the movement of passengers and freight on Virginia’s highway system. Using transportation revenues generally available to the Board, funds shall be apportioned as determined by the Board to designated transportation projects in addition to funds allocated pursuant to § 33.1-23.1, Code of Virginia. Total TEIF program funding shall not exceed $4,000,000 the first year and $4,000,000 the second year.

C. Funds from a stable and reliable source, as required in Public Law 96-184, as amended, are to be provided to Metro from payments authorized and allocated in this program and pursuant to § 58.1-1720, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds allocated to Metro under this program may be disbursed by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation directly to Metro or to any other transportation entity that has an agreement to provide funding to Metro as deemed appropriate by the Department.  In appointing the Virginia members of the board of directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission shall include the Secretary of Transportation or his designee as a principal member on the WMATA board of directors.

D. Funds appropriated to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and allocated to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission to be allocated to its member jurisdictions are held in trust by the commission for those jurisdictions until released by specific authorization from the governing bodies of the jurisdictions for the purpose for which funds were appropriated.

E. All Commonwealth Mass Transit Funds appropriated for Financial Assistance for Public Transportation shall be used only for public transportation purposes as defined by the Federal Transit Administration or outlined in § 58.1-638.4, subparagraphs b. through g., or in § 58.1-638.5, Code of Virginia.

F. From the amounts provided for experimental transit in the Public Transportation Program, there is hereby provided $200,000 in the first year for the planning and development of a Hampton Roads Fast Ferry demonstration project in coordination with Hampton Roads Transit.  In developing this plan, the Department shall assess the potential for designating a high speed ferry corridor within the Hampton Roads region with intermodal service to properties under the control of the Commonwealth as well as current transit properties operated by Hampton Roads Transit including, but not limited to, the Norfolk passenger light rail service.

G. It is the intent of the General Assembly that no transit formula assistance funding be used to support any new transit system or route at a level higher than such project would be eligible for under the allocation formula set out in § 58.1-638 A 4. e., Code of Virginia, beyond the first two years of its operation.

H.  From such funds appropriated for public transportation purposes in this item, there is hereby allocated $68,000 in the first year for the continued operation of GRTC Express services between Chesterfield Town Centre in Chesterfield County and downtown Richmond, and $200,000 in the first year for the continued operation of GRTC Express services between Hull Street Road in Chesterfield County and downtown Richmond.  Receipt of this funding is contingent upon the commitment of local matching funding of not less than a like amount.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that any future commitment of state funding shall be provided only through the transit operating formula.