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2015 SESSION

15103478D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1915
Offered January 14, 2015
Prefiled January 13, 2015
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 33.2-2500 and 33.2-2508 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority; regional plan.
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Patrons-- LeMunyon, Ramadan, Albo and LaRock
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 33.2-2500 and 33.2-2508 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 33.2-2500. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority created.

There is hereby created a political subdivision of the Commonwealth known as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, for purposes of this chapter referred to as "the Authority."

In addition to such other powers vested in the Authority by this chapter, the Authority shall have the following powers and functions:

1. The Authority shall prepare a regional transportation plan for Planning District 8 that includes transportation improvements of regional significance and those improvements necessary or incidental thereto and shall revise and amend the plan. The plan shall have as its primary objective reducing congestion in Planning District 8 to the greatest extent possible and in the most rapid and cost-effective manner. The provisions of Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) of Chapter 19 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to preparation of such transportation plan.

2. The Authority may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to subdivision 1, construct or acquire, by purchase, lease, contract, or otherwise, the transportation facilities specified in such transportation plan.

3. The Authority may enter into agreements or leases with public or private entities for the operation of its facilities or may operate such facilities itself.

4. The Authority may enter into contracts or agreements with the counties and cities embraced by the Authority, with other transportation commissions of transportation districts adjoining any county or city embraced by the Authority, with any transportation authority, or with any federal, state, local, or private entity to provide, or cause to be provided, transportation facilities and services to the area embraced by the Authority. Such contracts or agreements, together with any agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities, may be used by the Authority to finance the construction and operation of transportation facilities and such contracts, agreements, or leases shall inure to the benefit of any creditor of the Authority.

Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 through 4, the Authority shall not have the power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within municipalities or across municipal boundaries; such regulation is expressly reserved to the municipalities within which taxicabs operate.

5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Authority may:

a. Acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, or gift and provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any transportation service;

b. Acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, or gift in advance of the need for sale or contribution to an agency, for use by that agency in connection with an adopted transportation plan; and

c. Prepare a plan for mass transportation services with persons, counties, cities, agencies, authorities, or transportation commissions and may further contract with any such person or entity to provide necessary facilities, equipment, operations and maintenance, access, and insurance pursuant to such plan.

§ 33.2-2508. Responsibilities of Authority for long-range transportation planning.

The In fulfilling the requirements of subdivision 1 of § 33.2-2500, the Authority shall be responsible for long-range transportation planning for regional transportation projects in Northern Virginia. In carrying out this responsibility, the Authority shall, on the basis of a regional consensus whenever possible, set regional transportation policies and priorities for regional transportation projects. The policies and priorities In doing so, the Authority shall (i) give priority to projects that most effectively reduce congestion in the most congested corridors and intersections, (ii) be guided by performance-based criteria such as the ability to improve travel times, reduce delays, connect regional activity centers, improve safety, improve air quality, and move the most people in the most cost-effective manner, and (iii) document in quantitative terms the reduction in congestion and improvement in regional mobility in Planning District 8 expected by implementing the plan required by subdivision 1 of § 33.2-2500. Each locality embraced by the Authority shall report to the Authority at least annually any elements of its comprehensive plan that are not consistent with the plan required by subdivision 1 of § 33.2-2500.