Authority: Title 33.1, Code of Virginia.

A. Included in the amount for ground transportation system planning and research is $4,000,000 the first year and $4,000,000 the second year from the highway share of the Transportation Trust Fund for the planning and evaluation of options to address transportation needs. Such funds shall be used, but are not limited to, the completion of activities prior to the initiation of an individual project’s design or to benefit identification of needs throughout the state or the prioritization of those needs. For federally eligible activities, the activity or item shall be included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s annual update of the Six-Year Improvement program so that 1) appropriate federal funds may be allocated and reimbursed for the activities and 2) all requirements of the federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program can be achieved. Such planning and evaluation may be conducted or managed by the Department of Transportation, Department of Rail and Public Transportation, or another qualified entity selected and/or approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

B. Out of the amounts provided for Ground Transportation System Planning and Research, the Department of Transportation, through the Virginia Transportation Research Council, shall allocate such amounts as may be required to study the use of soil stabilizers in highway shoulders at one or more selected locations. In conducting its evaluation, the Council shall include a cost/benefit analysis, with the objective of finding a method of substantially reducing the occurrence of pavement/shoulder drop-off at a reasonable cost. Findings of the evaluation shall be reported to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than January 1, 2005.

C. Out of the appropriation included for this item, $75,000 in the first year shall be provided to fund the costs of engineering services required to continue efforts to select appropriate traffic calming methods for the Hunter Mill Road area in Fairfax County. VDOT shall transfer such funds to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority which shall be responsible for ensuring the conduct of the traffic calming study. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority shall present the findings and recommendations of the engineering review to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by December 15, 2004.