SJ122: Rapid transit network, regional; joint subcommittee to study feasibility of creating.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 122
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules
on February 8, 2008)
(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Senators Colgan and Barker [SJR 83])
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study enhancing rapid transit service and mass transit options in Northern Virginia. Report.

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 a joint subcommittee be established to study enhancing rapid transit service in Northern Virginia.

The joint subcommittee shall have 10 legislative members appointed as follows: four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and 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. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall:

1. Identify corridors and routes with strong transit demand or the potential for strong future demand based upon anticipated growth and land use policies;

2. Study the innovative approaches being used in urban areas elsewhere with special attention to new rapid transit technologies such as bus rapid transit;

3. Identify institutional and other barriers to connecting public bus services in Northern Virginia and recommend ways to overcome these barriers;

4. Recommend options for linking these routes into an integrated regional rapid transit network, using the most cost-effective and expeditious means available;

5. Research and identify institutional options for coordinating the management, operation, and maintenance of the network;

6. Research and identify capital and operating funding needs and identify options for increasing transit funding to a level sufficient to support and maintain a substantially expanded regional rapid transit system;

7. Include a commuter preference study to identify the features that are the most cost effective in attracting the most riders per capita and operating dollars expended; and

8. Study mass transit options and potential improvements that include, but are not 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 the western Prince William County/Manassas/Manassas Park area.

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 Department of Rail and Public Transportation. 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 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. 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 of 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, 2008, and the chairman shall submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. 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 the 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 2008 interim.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 122
Offered January 15, 2008
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study enhancing rapid transit service in Northern Virginia. Report.
Patron-- Colgan

Unanimous consent to introduce

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 a joint subcommittee be established to study enhancing rapid transit service in Northern Virginia.

The joint subcommittee shall have 10 legislative members appointed as follows: four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and 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. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall

1. Identify corridors and routes with strong transit demand or the potential for strong future demand based upon anticipated growth and land use policies;

2. Study the innovative approaches being used in urban areas elsewhere with special attention to new rapid transit technologies such as bus rapid transit;

3. Identify institutional and other barriers to connecting public bus services in Northern Virginia and recommend ways to overcome these barriers;

4. Recommend options for linking these routes into an integrated regional rapid transit network, using the most cost-effective and expeditious means available;

5. Research and identify institutional options for coordinating the management, operation, and maintenance of the network;

6. Research and identify capital and operating funding needs and identify options for increasing transit funding to a level sufficient to support and maintain a substantially expanded regional rapid transit system; and

7. Include a commuter preference study to identify the features that are the most cost-effective in attracting the most riders per capita and operating dollars expended.

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. 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 2008 interim.

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 of 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, 2008, and the chairman shall submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. 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 the 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 2008 interim.