Other Features

House Bill 3202 also includes other provisions intended to increase transportation accountability and maximize efficiency of the transportation network.

 
Local Environmental Review of Highway Projects
 
The bill requires that all local highway improvement projects go through an environmental review similar to the streamlined environmental process for state highway improvement projects.  The Secretaries of Transportation and Natural Resources are working to develop final guidelines for this process. 

Please click here to read the letter they sent to local government officials outlining the interim environmental review process (PDF, 4.25MB).   This letter also contains a list of projects that will be exempt from this environmental review process.

Functional Classification

• The bill requires the Department of Transportation (VDOT) to submit a plan to shift road classifications from an administrative classification to a functional classification. The plan to reassign the various highways, bridges, and other facilities of the state system of highways shall include a legislative proposal and an analysis of the costs, benefits, programmatic and other implications of the proposed reassignment. This plan, with the advice and consent of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, must be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2009.

• Secretary Homer has directed VDOT to work with the Virginia Transportation Research Council to work on this initiative. VDOT will provide the Commonwealth Transportation Board with regular updates on this topic.

Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability

The bill establishes the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability with the following roles:

1. To make performance reviews of operations of state agencies with transportation responsibilities to ascertain that sums appropriated have been or are being expended for the purposes for which they were made and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs in accomplishing legislative intent;
2. To study, on a continuing basis, the operations, practices, and duties of state agencies with transportation responsibilities as they relate to efficiency in the use of space, personnel, equipment, and facilities;
3. To retain such consultants and advisers as the Commission deems necessary to evaluate financial and project management of state agencies with transportation responsibilities; and
4. To make such special studies of and reports on the operations and functions of state agencies with transportation responsibilities as it deems appropriate and as may be requested by the General Assembly
   The Commission’s member shall consist of the following: six (6) members of House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House, with at least three members that serve on the House Transportation Committee; four (4) members of Senate appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, with at least two (2) members that serve on the Senate Transportation Committee; and, the Auditor of Public Accounts, who serves ex officio without a vote.

 
Transportation Efficiency
 
Open Road Tolling. Operators of toll roads constructed or substantially upgraded after July 1, 2008 are now required to ensure that the facility can automatically collect tolls from users without impeding the flow of traffic. This type of technology is currently in use on the Pocahontas Parkway.

All toll roads in the Northern Virginia VDOT District will switch to open road tolling by July 1, 2008.

Toll Roads may retain methods of non-automated toll collection in some lanes of the facility.

VDOT is required to complete a report on its plans to create opportunities to enhance mobility and free-flow of traffic on its toll roads through the use of technological advances. VDOT must submit this report on or before January 1, 2008.