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2005 SESSION

052895736
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 282
Offered January 12, 2005
Prefiled December 30, 2004
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study issues relating to transportation in the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patrons-- Hawkins, Hanger and Potts
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Twenty-nine percent of interstate roads, 32 percent of primary roads, 30 percent of secondary roads, and 11 percent of urban roads cannot handle current traffic flows; and

WHEREAS, the majority of the Commonwealth's bridges are at least 25 years old and over 3,000 bridges are between 50 and 75 years old; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, the typical commuter spent an additional 25 hours in traffic in the Commonwealth as compared to the commuter of 1990; and

WHEREAS, according to estimates, by 2014, the Commonwealth will no longer be able to fully match federal funds for new construction because the Commonwealth's revenues dedicated for transportation will primarily be expended for maintenance, which has been given priority over new construction pursuant to the Appropriations Act; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study issues relating to transportation in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 19 members that shall consist of 10 legislative members, eight nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member.  Members shall be appointed as follows:  four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; 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; three nonlegislative citizen members with significant experience in transportation planning or highway construction to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and five nonlegislative citizen members with significant experience in transportation planning or highway construction to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges.  Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.  If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall examine (i) whether the Commonwealth's current classification of roads into primary, secondary, and urban systems is the most suitable for addressing future transportation issues or should be replaced with a functional system that is based upon the usage of roads; (ii) whether the current statutory formula for allocating highway construction funds should be changed to better reflect transportation needs; (iii) the appropriate state and local roles in highway construction and maintenance and the revenue resources that are available to perform such roles; (iv) whether the scope of projects eligible to be built under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 should be more targeted in scope than is currently provided for under the Act and whether the Act should be amended to include private funding requirements from private entities contracting with the government; (v) whether land use and transportation planning decisions should be more integrated and coordinated than is presently provided for under law; (vi) the composition of the Commonwealth Transportation Board; and (vii) such other transportation-related matters as the joint subcommittee deems appropriate. The joint subcommittee shall develop recommendations directed at placing the Commonwealth in the best position for addressing future transportation issues and challenges.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services.  Technical assistance shall be provided by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and staff of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance. 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 2005 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $14,800 without approval as set out in this resolution.  Of this amount an estimated $1,600 is allocated for speakers and materials. 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 Senate members or a majority of the House 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, 2005, 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 2006 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 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 2005 interim.