Authority: Titles 33.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.

A. Of the amounts shown as Commonwealth Transportation funds, $102,228,900 the first year and $106,407,600 the second year is appropriated from the Transportation Trust Fund.

B.1. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate all funds for Mass Transit Assistance, other than Federal and Regulatory Programs, as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia.

2. The allocation of Formula Assistance to each recipient shall be limited to the recipient's eligibility for state administrative, ridesharing, fuel, tires, and maintenance parts and supplies assistance as defined in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia and at a uniform state participation rate of 80%. When the initial distribution to a recipient is greater than the recipient's eligibility to receive Formula Assistance, the Commonwealth Transportation Board may transfer the surplus funds to the statewide Capital Assistance distribution under this program. The Commonwealth Transportation Board may hold harmless from a loss of state formula assistance any transit system that maintains service levels with no increase in operating expenses.

C. Out of the amounts for Federal and Regulatory Programs funds estimated at $195,888 the first year and $195,888 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be paid to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission, as provided in the Washington Metropolitan Transit Regulation Compact.

D. Funds from a stable and reliable source, as required in Public Law 96-184, as amended, are to be provided to Metro Rail from payments authorized and allocated in this program and pursuant to § 58.1-1720, Code of Virginia.

E. Funds appropriated to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and allocated to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission to be allocated to its member jurisdictions are held in trust by the Commission for those jurisdictions until released by specific authorization from the governing bodies of the jurisdictions for the purpose for which funds were appropriated.

F. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall operate a program entitled the Transportation Efficiency Improvement Fund (TEIF). The purpose of the TEIF program is to reduce traffic congestion by supporting transportation demand management programs designed to reduce the use of single occupant vehicles and to increase the use of high occupancy vehicle modes. Using transportation revenues generally available to the Board, funds shall be apportioned as determined by the Board to designated transportation projects in addition to funds allocated pursuant to § 33.1-23.1, Code of Virginia. Total TEIF program funding shall not exceed $1,900,000 the first year and $1,900,000 the second year. Eligible applicants for grants shall include local governing bodies, transportation district commissions, planning district commissions, metropolitan planning organizations, public service corporations, and transportation management associations whose applications are approved by an eligible public recipient or whose Board includes elected representatives from member jurisdictions.

G. From the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, $5,000,000 the first year and $5,000,000 the second year is designated for 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, of the Acts of Assembly of 2000.

H.1. Out of this appropriation, $4,300,000 the first year from funds carried over from fiscal year 2000 and $2,400,000 the second year shall be provided to the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) for the development and operation of new local service GRTC routes, new GRTC express transit routes or extensions of existing transit routes. Each new or extended route shall be approved by the local governing body that is authorized herein to receive the new or extended service, prior to the expenditure of these funds for capital or operating purposes for such service.

2. In the first year, fund sources appropriated for this item include $1,000,000 in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) block grant funds for TANF-eligible clients. The Department of Social Services shall work with GRTC to obtain federal approval to utilize TANF funds for operating buses or vans in the Greater Richmond area to transport low-income individuals. Other fund sources in the first year include $1,000,000 from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds allocated to the Richmond Metroplitan Metropolitan Planning Organization/Authority; $300,000 from the Transportation Efficiency Improvement Fund (TEIF); $1,000,000 from federal statewide bus purchase funds; and $1,000,000 from the Public Transit Capital Fund. All such funds were allocated to the project in fiscal year 2000 and are being reappropriated in fiscal year 2001. In addition, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall match dollar-for-dollar all private sector donations for these purposes from transit formula assistance capital funds.

3. In the second year, $2,400,000 shall be provided to GRTC, including $2,000,000 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds allocated to the Richmond Metropolitan Planning Organization/Authority and $400,000 from the Transportation Efficiency Improvement Fund (TEIF), for this project. It is the intent of the General Assembly that operational funding for the expansion of public transit in the Greater Richmond area remain within the Greater Richmond region, regardless of where the routes are extended or proposed.

I. Out of this appropriation for operating assistance, $100,000 the first year shall be provided to the Potomac-Rappahannock Transportation Commission to renovate the Virginia Railway Express station at Quantico.

J. Out of the amounts for this item, $800,000 the first year and $800,000 the second year shall be designated for "paratransit" services for the elderly and disabled. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Specialized Transportation Council shall jointly determine the services, programs, and properties to receive the funding each year.

K. Out of this appropriation for special programs, $100,000 in the first year shall be used to co-sponsor the Southeast High Speed Rail Conference and Exposition in Richmond.