Chief Patron: Wardrup
Public Transportation Communications Equip. (language only)

Item 481 #1h

Language
Page 433, after line 22, insert:
"A. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall conduct a study of the current communications equipment utilized by organizations that provide transportation services in Virginia and receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, particularly with respect to the organization's ability to communication internally and with first responders in the event of a national emergency or natural disaster.  In the event that such study concludes that existing communications equipment is outdated or inadequate, the Department shall expand its study to include the future need for upgraded communications equipment, and the availability of state or federal funds, including funds from the Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, that may be utilized for upgrading such communications equipment."

Explanation
(This amendment directs the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct a study of the communications equipment used by transit providers to determine if it needs to be upgraded to address national emergency or national disaster issues.)