SB255: Toll relief; Department of Transportation to study.

SENATE BILL NO. 255

Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 6, 2016
A BILL to require the Department of Transportation to study toll relief for citizens of the Commonwealth.
Patron-- Surovell

Referred to Committee on Rules

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Department of Transportation shall conduct a survey of other state programs and study potential methods of toll relief for citizens of the Commonwealth. The study should include (i) the feasibility of a discount program for in-state residents on toll roads in the Commonwealth, including highways owned by the state, other political subdivisions or governmental agencies, or private entities; (ii) the feasibility of renegotiating agreements with private partners regarding revenue neutral options for allowing in-state residents to receive discounts on roads built pursuant to agreements with private partners; (iii) the feasibility of waiving transponder fees for in-state residents; (iv) rebate programs for in-state commuters and frequent users; and (v) any other program that recognizes the prior investment of Virginia taxpayers in existing infrastructure.

2. That the Department of Transportation shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and report of its progress in meeting the requests of this act no later than the first day of the 2017 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and report shall be submitted for publication as a report document 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.