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2018 SESSION

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HB 1539 Mass transit; establishing various Funds to improve transportation.

Introduced by: Timothy D. Hugo | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

Mass transit in the Commonwealth. Makes numerous changes to the administration of and revenues for mass transit in the Commonwealth, specifically as it relates to funding of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the disbursement of funds in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund. The bill sets a floor on the average price of fuel used to calculate the regional motor sales tax as the price of gas on February 20, 2013, the same floor that is used to calculate the state fuels tax. The bill uses a variety of existing revenue sources to allocate revenues for mass transit, and authorizes the issuance of $50 million in bonds only for a required federal match. The provisions of the bill are contingent upon Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the federal government adopting similar actions to raise revenues for WMATA. This bill incorporates HB 1319 and is identical to SB 856.

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Mass transit in the Commonwealth. Makes numerous changes to the administration of and revenues for mass transit in the Commonwealth, specifically as it relates to funding of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the disbursement of funds in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund. The bill sets a floor on the average price of fuel used to calculate the regional motor sales tax as the price of gas on February 20, 2013, the same floor that is used to calculate the state fuels tax. The bill uses a variety of existing revenue sources to allocate revenues for mass transit and authorizes the issuance of $50 million in bonds only for a required federal match. The provisions of the bill are contingent upon Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the federal government adopting similar actions to raise revenues for WMATA. This bill incorporates HB 1319 and is identical to SB 856.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Mass transit in the Commonwealth. Directs the Commonwealth Transportation Board (the Board) to develop a prioritization process for the use of funds in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund (the Fund), based on criteria specified in the bill. The prioritization process would apply to capital projects administered by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). The bill establishes separate prioritization processes for the Board's Six Year-Improvement Program, state of good repair projects, and major expansion projects. The bill directs the Board to solicit input from various organizations, including localities and other stakeholders, on its development of prioritization processes and to create a Transit Service Advisory Committee to advise DRPT.

The bill establishes procedures for allocating funds in the Fund. The bill would allocate 53.5 percent to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) for distribution to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for operating and capital costs. Thirty-one percent would be allocated to support operating costs of non-WMATA transit providers, and 12.5 percent would be allocated to non-WMATA capital costs. Three percent would be allocated for special programs, including ridesharing. The allocation procedures would provide for other uses of the Fund, including establishing a reserve fund.

The bill provides that funds allocated to NVTC for distribution to WMATA would be credited to the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church, and, upon commencement of construction of the Silver Line, to Loudoun County. If operating assistance to WMATA increases by more than two percent in a year, the Board is directed to withhold 50 percent of the allocation for WMATA capital purposes.

The bill establishes the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Capital Fund (the WMATA Fund) to be used to fund WMATA capital costs. Starting in 2019, $20 million per year would be transferred from the Northern Virginia Transportation District Fund to the WMATA Fund, and $45 million would be transferred from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Fund to the WMATA Fund before distribution to localities.

The bill establishes a three-member Metro Reform Commission to advise the signatories of the WMATA compact. The bill directs NVTC to request information from WMATA regarding its budget, independent audits, National Transit Data profile, and other subjects.

The provisions of the bill regarding WMATA funding would not take effect until Maryland and the District of Columbia take action to provide their share of $500 million in capital funding to WMATA.

This bill incorporates HB 1319.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact of 1966. Creates a three-person interim advisory commission whose purpose is to make recommendations to the signatories on reforms to the National Capital Interest Arbitration Standards Act. The bill directs that a $100 million appropriation be made from the General Fund.