HJ580: Interstate 95; joint subcommittee to study widening between Exit 118 & the Springfield Interchange.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 580

Offered January 9, 2019
Prefiled August 14, 2018
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of widening Interstate 95 between Exit 118 and the Springfield Interchange. Report.

Patrons-- Cole, Carroll Foy, Fowler, Guzman, Kory, Sickles, Thomas and Watts; Senators: Chase, Dance, Howell, Marsden and Reeves

Committee Referral Pending

WHEREAS, an adequate, efficient, and safe Interstate 95 corridor is important to the economic well-being of the communities located along the corridor; and

WHEREAS, a 2017 nationwide study conducted by INRIX Research ranked the nation's worst single traffic hotspot as Interstate 95 southbound at Exit 133A in Fredericksburg, with 1,394 traffic jams over the two-month study period, with an average duration of 33 minutes. This hotspot is projected to cost drivers $2.3 billion from 2017 through 2026 in time lost, fuel wasted, and carbon emitted; and

WHEREAS, the portion of Interstate 95 northbound between Massaponax and State Route 610 in North Stafford was ranked as the seventh worst traffic hotspot in the nation, with 936 traffic jams over the two-month study period, with an average duration of 33 minutes. This hotspot is projected to cost drivers $1.1 billion from 2017 through 2026 in time lost, fuel wasted, and carbon emitted; and

WHEREAS, the existing transportation infrastructure in this corridor is inadequate and must be updated to meet the needs of the growing population along this corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments reported that the Interstate 95 corridor in Fairfax and Prince William Counties contained 566,000 residents and 187,000 jobs in 2010 and forecasts that 126,000 residents and 85,000 jobs will be added by 2030; and

WHEREAS, continued congestion in this corridor threatens the prosperity and economic development of the entire region and creates economic hardship for the residents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility of widening that portion of Interstate 95 between Exit 118 and the Springfield Interchange. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 19 members that shall consist of 18 legislative members and one ex officio member. The joint subcommittee shall consist of all the members representing the legislative districts along this portion of the Interstate 95 corridor. The House members shall consist of those members representing Districts 2, 28, 31, 39, 42, 43, 52, 54, 55, and 88. The Senate members shall consist of those members representing Districts 4, 17, 28, 29, 30, 36, 39, and 35. The Secretary of Transportation or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall determine the feasibility and practicality of widening that portion of the Interstate 95 corridor north of Exit 118 and south of the Springfield Interchange by at least one additional lane of traffic in each direction.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. 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 2019 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $33,840 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 House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to 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, 2019, and the chairman 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 2020 Regular Session of the General Assembly. 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 2019 interim.