SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 83 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 9, 2008 Requesting the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study mass transit options and potential improvements for Northern Virginia. Report. ---------- Patron-- Barker ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, Northern Virginia's highway traffic is among the worst in the Commonwealth and the United States; and

WHEREAS, despite its traffic congestion, Northern Virginia remains one of Virginia's most important centers of economic activity; and

WHEREAS, maximum use of mass transit service by the population of Northern Virginia is important in efforts to manage and reduce traffic congestion; and

WHEREAS, management of Northern Virginia's traffic congestion is vital not only to the region's economy, but also to the quality of life of its citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Rail and Public Transportation be requested to study mass transit options and potential improvements for Northern Virginia. Such study shall include but not necessarily be limited to (i) extension of Metrorail, (ii) increased use of bus rapid transit, (iii) extension of Virginia Railway Express service to connect from the Franconia/Springfield areas to eastern Prince William County and from the Vienna/Fairfax area to western Prince William County/Manassas/Manassas Park area.

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

The Department shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and 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 no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.