Authority: Title 33.1, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of the amounts for General Management and Direction shall be provided $652,800 the first year and $652,800 $652,300 the second year from the Transportation Trust Fund to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for the management of the Transportation Trust Fund.

B. The Governor is hereby authorized to increase the maximum position level for the Department of Transportation for additional staff in all construction districts. The additional staff shall be responsible for maintenance, highway construction, and other transportation programs. By November 1, 2000, the Commissioner shall report on the allocation of the additional staff by function and district to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee, with specific information included on the impact on the maintenance program.

C. The Department of Transportation shall review its policies regarding placement of underground utilities within the public rights-of-way. The Department shall develop procedures that will minimize disruption to traffic and surrounding property and the cost of future highway maintenance. The Department shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, 2000, on the status of its review.

D. The Department of Transportation shall review the formulas used in determining the financial assistance to localities distributions and make recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board as to the appropriate allocations based on that review.

E. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of Transportation shall address the technology issues identified in the Auditor of Public Account's Report on Audit for the Year Ended June 30, 1999, prior to enhancing its computing capacity.

F. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall not allocate additional funding to the administration and operations of the Department of Transportation in its annual update of the Six-Year Financial Plan. For fiscal year 2001, all proposed appropriation or allocation adjustments decreasing the funding available to the highway construction program shall be approved by the General Assembly at the 2001 General Assembly Session prior to their implementation.

G. The Department of Transportation and the State Council of Higher Education shall develop a scholarship program for engineering students attending Virginia higher education institutions. By the 2001 Session of the General Assembly, the Commissioner shall report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee on the criteria for selection, employment requirements, and scholarship amounts and funding levels for such a program. It is the intent of the General Assembly that no more than $200,000 shall be allocated to such a program in fiscal year 2002. Each scholarship shall not exceed the amount of $3,500 per semester.

H. The Comptroller shall deposit into the Priority Transportation Fund, contingent upon the passage of Senate Bill 33/House Bill 608 and as such bill becomes law pursuant to Chapters 1019 and 1044, Acts of Assembly of 2000, an amount estimated at $12,700,000 the first year and $11,700,000 the second year in savings as described in Item 541 and Item 566 of this Act. Such transfer shall occur by January 1 of each year.

I. The Department of Transportation shall conduct a feasibility study to determine the best alternative for accommodating long-term space needs for the administrative office of the Northern Virginia District. The study shall include, but may not be limited to, the possibility of constructing an administrative office on land known as the "Northern Virginia District Maintenance Complex" owned by the Department of Transportation in Prince William County. The Commissioner shall report to the Governor the results of the study by October 1, 2001.

J. The Virginia Department of Transportation shall fully develop and implement a system for purchasing goods and services and utilize reverse bidding in its acquisition of road materials and commodities, and for other purchasing and contracting where applicable, via electronic procurement under rules promulgated by the Virginia Department of General Services.

K. Within the External Audit Division, the Department of Transportation shall create a construction audit function to review construction projects for contract compliance. Alternatively, the agency may, after performing a cost benefit analysis, contract out for these services. This function will be funded from savings generated through its activities, with other recoveries reverting to the Transportation Trust Fund.