SJR 121
Joint Subcommittee Studying
Creation of a Northern Virginia Regional Transportation Authority
September 13, 2000, Annandale
The meeting's primary focus was two presentations: the first, by the
director of Fairfax County's Department of Transportation, summarized
Northern Virginia's 2020 Transportation Plan; the second, by the director
of the Department of Transportation Planning of the Metro Washington Council
of Governments (COG), highlighted the differences between the 2020 Plan
and the financially constrained long-range transportation plan developed
for the Washington Metropolitan region by COG, pursuant to federal law.
2020 Plan
The 2020 Plan was developed by the Transportation Coordinating Council (an
entity created by Governor L. Douglas Wilder in 1991 to provide policy guidance
for implementation of Virginia's portion of the transportation plan for
the Washington metropolitan region) to show what changes in transportation
programs and infrastructure would be required by 2020, in order to prevent
increases in population, economic activity, and traffic from seriously eroding
the area's prosperity, environment, and quality of life. Unlike an earlier
2010 Plan that served as a baseline for the 2020 Plan, the 2020 Plan has
been adopted by all 13 localities represented on the TCC. Nevertheless,
it is important to bear in mind that the 2020 Plan is NOT a product of the
Washington metropolitan planning organization or of the Virginia Department
of Transportation (VDOT).
The 2020 Plan focuses on six major transportation challenges:
1. Replacement of the present "hub-and-spoke" transportation
network (connecting suburban population centers with a downtown core)
with a "spider web" network (not only connecting the suburbs with downtown,
but with one another as well);
2. Expansion of modal choices available to move transportation consumers
from one activity center to another throughout the area;
3. Reduction of congestion on major highway corridors;
4. Improvement of air quality by reducing vehicle-produced air pollution;
5. Maintenance of an aging transportation infrastructure; and
6. Funding.
This last element is the most troublesome. There is approximately a $700
million annual shortfall between the requirements of the 2020 Plan and best
estimates of available funding. Aside from existing state, local, and regional
agencies, there are no "new" entities available to carry out the 2020 Plan,
even if full funding were available.
Long-Range Plan
The second presentation highlighted the differences between the 2020 Plan
and the financially constrained long-range plan (CLRP) developed the National
Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the designated metropolitan
planning organization (MPO). The TPB plays an important role as the regional
forum for transportation planning. The TPB (and other MPOs in their regions)
prepare plans and programs that the federal government must approve in order
for federal-aid transportation funds to flow to the Washington metropolitan
area.
TPB's primary functions are:
- Development of a Long-Range Plan (covering at least 20 years) and
- Development of a six-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).
The long-range planning process involves two kinds of plans: a Vision
Plan (one that considers new approaches to the region's transportation
future without reference to available funding) and a Constrained Long
Range Plan (one that responds to federal requirements that funding sources
be identified for all strategies and projects included in the plan). The
TPB is presently in the process of adopting its CLRP for 2000.
The CLRP differs from the 2020 Plan in many ways, largely because of
the need of the CLRP to take funding possibilities into account.
Next Meeting
Chairman Barry announced his intention, at the panel's next meeting (October
11, 2000), to begin a discussion of whether the joint subcommittee would
recommend creation of a regional transportation authority for Northern Virginia
and, if so, how that authority would be organized and what its powers and
duties would be. Staff was asked to prepare a "decision tree" to assist
the members in these discussions.
The Honorable Warren E. Barry,
Chairman
Legislative Services contact:
Alan B. Wambold
THE
RECORD
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