Authority: Title 33.1, Chapter 1, Code of Virginia.

A. 1. The Interstate, Primary and Secondary Maintenance service areas preserve the public's investment through the delivery of an effective and efficient statewide maintenance program to protect and enhance the transportation infrastructure and the safety of the traveling public.

2. The Transportation Operations Services service area improves mobility, safety, travel time reliability, and security on the transportation system through the deployment of a variety of operational strategies including regional smart traffic centers, emergency services, traveler services, congestion management and traffic signalization optimization.

3. The Highway Maintenance Program Management and Direction service area provides management, direction, and administration to support the program's activities.

4. The Department shall develop an asset management methodology for the review by the General Assembly in the 2007 Session. As part of the methodology, the Department shall develop and include performance targets to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of maintenance activities. The methodology shall, in accordance with generally accepted engineering principles and business practices, identify and prioritize statewide and district maintenance and operations needs. These needs include, but are not limited to, pavement, structures and bridges, pipes and drainage, roadside operations and statewide programs such as snow removal and equipment replacement. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall review the proposed methodology before submission to the General Assembly. The Department shall report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2006, on progress made and future plans to incorporate principles of asset management into its maintenance and operations practices. 

5. Prior to adoption, the Department shall develop and submit to the General Assembly a six-year maintenance and operations program no later than July 1, 2007, to provide greater transparency, predictability and equity of funding, and stability of investment over time. This program shall equitably distribute maintenance funds to districts based on objectively identified needs, define the base needs for each district and include future adjustments based on additional funding in district budgets to address differences in need across them. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall review and approve the six-year maintenance and operations program and the annual updates.

B. By November 30 of each year, the Department shall submit to the Governor, General Assembly, and the Commonwealth Transportation Board a report on the condition of existing transportation infrastructure and proposed measures to improve the operations of the transportation system and the service areas listed in paragraph A.  Such report shall include:

1) An assessment of the department's efforts to develop systematic mechanisms to evaluate its efforts as outlined in paragraph A.4. of this Item;

2) A report on all actions, accomplishments, achievements, and initiatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation, in the preceding fiscal year that involved outsourcing, privatization, and downsizing, as required pursuant to Chapter 420, Acts of Assembly of 2006;

3) An enumeration of the status of major bridge maintenance and replacement projects and the availability of federal highway bridge rehabilitation and replacement apportionments; and

4) In conjunction with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, a report on the number of rail crossings in the metropolitan areas of Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia.  The report shall take into consideration the impediments to safety, mobility and economic development caused by the rail crossings as measured by the number of trains and frequency of train traffic; the vehicular traffic volumes at the crossings; and the lack of nearby rail and road alternatives.  The report shall include an estimate of the costs to remove, relocate or remediate those rail crossings that have the greatest impacts on communities, including environmental.

C. Out of the funds provided in this program, $101,350,500 the first year and $105,432,600 the second year in federal funds shall be used to address the maintenance of pavements and bridges and the operations of the transportation system.  These funds shall be matched by other funds appropriated to this Item.

D. The department is authorized to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement officials to facilitate the enforcement of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) restrictions throughout the Commonwealth and metropolitan planning regions.

E. VDOT shall erect brown supplemental guide signs marked, "American Shakespeare Center, Blackfriars Playhouse" at the westbound Interstate 64 and Interstate 81 interchange and on Interstate 81, both northbound and southbound at the Route 250 exit subject to federal approval of such placement.  The Department may request that the Center provide payment for the costs of the signage.

F.  Should federal law be changed to permit privatization of rest area operations, the Department is hereby authorized to accept or solicit proposals for their development and/or operation under the Public Private Transportation Act.

G.  The Department shall seek replacement property for land used as a maintenance facility known as Short Pump Area Headquarters in Western Henrico County due to the decreased utility of the site and due to the value of the land having exceeded the current operations as the highest and best use of the property.  The Department shall report to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by December 6, 2006, on efforts, including the solicitation of proposals under the Public-Private Transportation Act or the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, to relocate this facility and to make this land available for the highest and best use.