I-81 Reconstruction (language only)

Item 488 #3s

Language
Page 357, after line 48 insert:
"C.1.  The department shall adhere to the policy set by the 2002 Session of the General Assembly concerning the application of tolls or user fees on Interstate 81 in signing any comprehensive agreement pursuant to the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995.  State law prohibits the imposition of tolls or user fees on Interstate 81 on passenger cars, pickup or panel trucks, and motorcycles as such terms are defined in § 46.2-200, Code of Virginia.  Unless the Federal Highway Administration exercises its authority to approve a pilot project for Interstate 81 permitting the use of tolls on passenger cars, this policy continues.
2.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commonwealth Transportation Board proceed with the environmental study of the Interstate 81 reconstruction project and that this study consider and incorporate the mitigating impacts of various rail options on the environment."

Explanation
(This amendment directs the Department of Transportation to follow policy set by the General Assembly to restrict the use of tolls on Interstate 81 in any Public-Private Transportation Act project. This policy can only be overridden by action taken by the federal government. Moreover, the required environmental study will have to consider the impacts of various rail options on the project.)