Transportation Initiative

Item 493.10 #1c

Language
Page 447, line 19, strike "$350,000,000" and insert "$590,000,000".
Page 447, line 19, strike "$474,007,050" and insert "$1,082,069,050".
Page 447, line 19, strike "Replacement of Diverted Transportation Funds" and insert: "2005 Transportation Initiative".
Page 447, strike lines 23 through 53, and insert:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, $848,062,000 is appropriated in this item to implement the Transportation Initiative of 2005.  This amount shall be transferred in the amounts specified to the items below and shall be used for the purposes detailed below.
1.  Out of this appropriation, $107,562,000 the second year from the general fund shall be deposited into the Priority Transportation Fund.  This amount represents the share of insurance premium tax revenues derived from automobile insurance premiums.
2.  Out of this appropriation, $220,000,000 from the general fund in the first year and $36,400,000 from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund in the second year shall be transferred to Item 488 of this act and deposited into the highway share of the Transportation Trust Fund to fully fund projects on the interstate, primary, secondary and urban systems identified as complete but requiring a deficit payoff in the fiscal year 2005-2010 Six-Year Improvement Program.
3.  Out of this appropriation, $50,000,000 from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund in the second year shall be deposited into the Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund to support timely and cost-effective construction and acquisition of transportation facilities pursuant to the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995, as amended, and design-build projects authorized pursuant to § 33.1-12(b), Code of Virginia.  
4.  Out of this appropriation, $23,200,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is provided for the dedicated rail improvement fund created pursuant to legislation adopted by the 2005 Session of the General Assembly.
5.  Out of this appropriation, $20,000,000 the first year from the general fund and $55,000,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is provided for transit capital projects as follows:  $10,000,000 for a bus rapid transit system in Virginia Beach, $20,000,000 for the Virginia Railway Express for passenger rail car purchases, $5,000,000 for a statewide bus purchase, and $40,000,000 for rail car purchases by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  
6. Out of this appropriation, $97,400,000 the second year is provided from federal highway administration funds and shall be transferred to Item 489 of this act for maintenance of existing transportation infrastructure.
7.  Out of this appropriation, $20,000,000 in the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be used to support any public-private partnership developed through efforts of the Secretary of Transportation to obtain a waiver from federal law and regulation concerning privatization of the state's welcome centers and rest areas.  If no such waiver is obtained, the Department of Transportation shall use the appropriation to repair, improve, construct or replace these facilities.  The Department shall prioritize its spending on those facilities in the Interstates 95 and 64 corridors.
8.  Out of this appropriation, $2,400,000 in the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be transferred to Item 475 and be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct an agency-wide risk assessment, needs analysis and gap analysis for the Department of Motor Vehicles' computer systems.  The assessment will identify the specifications and requirements for DMV's integrated system redesign.  The services purchased will be performed according to the guidelines set forth by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.  Up to $1,000,000 of this amount may be used to replace obsolete computer terminals with personal computers at the Department's customer service centers.  The Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the uses of the funds and the results of the assessment no later than November 15, 2005.
9.  Out of this appropriation, an additional $35,000,000 in the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be allocated to a local revenue sharing program.  Entities eligible for grants under this program shall include all cities and counties in the Commonwealth, as well as towns that maintain their own roadways.  The maximum amount of any individual project grant under this program shall be $1,000,000.  In conjunction with funding provided in Item 488 for revenue sharing, this provides $50,000,000 in the second year for such activities.
10.  Out of this appropriation, $40,000,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is provided to encourage local governments to expand their involvement in the financing, management and administration of the design, acquisition or construction of transportation facilities within their boundaries.  These funds shall be distributed as set out in Item 492, paragraph D, of this act.
11.  Out of this appropriation, $141,100,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be transferred and allocated in accordance with Item 469 of this act and Titles 33.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia, to address the overall needs of transportation infrastructure."
Page 448, strike lines 1 through 54.
Page 449, strike lines 1 through 23.

Explanation
(This amendment provides $848.1 million in additional funding for transportation improvements across the Commonwealth.)