HJ226: Chincoteague, Town of; U.S. Department of Interior urged to oppose federal purchase of land.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 226
WHEREAS, an Alternative Transportation Study was prepared for Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in December 2009 by the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center; and
WHEREAS, several alternative strategies propose to reduce or eliminate personal vehicle use at the current beach front parking lots in favor of a transit shuttle during the peak season; and
WHEREAS, this study and the draft Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) alternatives propose the acquisition of property within the Town of Chincoteague for remote transit parking; and
WHEREAS, a specific 200 acres of developed and open space property was identified by the draft CCP to be acquired for said remote transit parking; and
WHEREAS, the loss of private investment, jobs, and tax revenue would adversely impact the Town of Chincoteague and Accomack County economies; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chincoteague submitted a questionnaire to over 13,000 summer visitors to the Refuge in 2010, in which over 82 percent of responders stated they would not return for another visit if transit from a remote parking lot to the beach was provided; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the U.S. Department of the Interior be urged to oppose the federal purchase of land within the Town of Chincoteague; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to Ken Salazar, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.