SJ72: Transportation; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study equity of funding.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 72

Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled January 8, 2014
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the equity of transportation funding. Report.
Patron-- Wagner

Referred to Committee on Rules

WHEREAS, the equity of transportation funding among highway systems has not been studied by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission since JLARC Study #64, "The Equity of Current Provision for Allocating Highway and Transportation Funds in Virginia," was completed in 1984; and

WHEREAS, it was necessary to allow the first $500 million allocated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to go toward projects such as bridge reconstruction and rehabilitation, high priority projects, and reconstructing deteriorated Interstate and primary system highways and unpaved roads carrying more than 200 vehicles per day; and

WHEREAS, currently the remaining funds are split 40 percent to the primary system, 30 percent to the secondary system, and 30 percent to the urban system; and

WHEREAS, new revenues from Chapter 766 of the Acts of Assembly of 2013 may be more appropriately spent under a different formula; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the equity of transportation funding.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) shall study current transportation funding; examine the adequacy of funding for transportation projects and how new funds would be most appropriately spent; review funding for other modes of transportation such as public transit, ports, and airports; and review the adequacy of roadway maintenance funding provided to localities.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Secretary of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, and the Department of Transportation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to JLARC for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2014, and for the second year by November 30, 2015, and the Director 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 next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether JLARC 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 summaries and reports 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.