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2018 SESSION

18104020D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 66
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled January 8, 2018
Requesting the Department of Transportation to study and develop best practices for constructing, operating, and maintaining a commuter rail system in the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patrons-- Roem, Bell, John J., Boysko, Carter, Guzman, Hope, Hurst, Keam, Levine, Rasoul, Reid, Rodman, Simon, Tran and Tyler
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, building and widening roads is not enough to meet the transportation needs of the Commonwealth, and commuter programs such as rail systems are a necessary part of the solution to improve mobility and help the economy grow; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Railway Express in Northern Virginia provides critical person-carrying capacity that is the equivalent of a full interstate lane in the peak-hour traffic direction in the Interstate 95 and Interstate 66 corridors, with less pollution, energy consumption, and accident cost than highway operations; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation is conducting major initiatives to increase transportation options across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the rail transportation system in Switzerland is so affordable and reliable that the citizens of Switzerland travel more kilometers in trains than any other nation; and

WHEREAS, Japan is increasing rail transportation options to develop the national economy as well as encourage the local economy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Transportation be requested to study and develop best practices for constructing, operating, and maintaining a commuter rail system in the Commonwealth.

In conducting its study, the Department of Transportation (Department) shall focus on the methods and procedures used in Switzerland and Japan for constructing, operating, managing, designing, engineering, and maintaining the commuter rail systems in those countries. The Department shall determine if such methods and procedures (i) can be considered best practices and (ii) are feasible for implementation in the Commonwealth. In making such determinations, the Department shall consider the unique needs of rail systems throughout the Commonwealth. The Department may use any funds appropriated for this study for travel necessary for the completion of this study.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Transportation for this study, upon request.

The Department of Transportation shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2018, and for the second year by November 30, 2019, and the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document for each year. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.