449#1s (DRPT) Mass Transit Operating Grants. SB850 - Committee Approved

State Budget

2009 Session

Budget Amendments - SB850 (Committee Approved)

Bill Order » Item 449 #1s

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Mass Transit Operating Grants (language only)

Item 449 #1s

Item 449 #1s
Transportation
Rail and Public Transportation, Department of

Language
Page 486, after line 18, insert:
"F. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph A.1. of this item, during the second year the director of the department, with the concurrence of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, is hereby directed to withhold ten percent of the funding that would otherwise be provided for transit capital improvements under § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. These funds shall be distributed on a competitive basis to transit properties across the Commonwealth to help offset state reductions in operating support. In determining the appropriate distribution of these one-time funds, the department shall solicit applications from all transit properties eligible for operating support from the Commonwealth, and give due consideration to services that could be eliminated if additional operating support is not provided and also provide priority where higher than average local support is provided for such transit services."

Explanation
(This amendment provides for a one-time reduction in Mass Transit Capital Fund of ten percent. The funds shall be set-aside for competitive distribution within the Commonwealth Mass Transit Operating Fund to maintain operating funding. The amendment does not allocate new funding to the Mass Transit Fund.)

Item 449

Item 449	First Year - FY2009	Second Year - FY2010
Financial Assistance for Public Transportation (60900)	$261,714,161	$275,217,276
Public Transportation Programs (60901)	FY2009 $251,343,066	FY2010 $264,698,233
Congestion Management Programs (60902)	FY2009 $5,344,000	FY2010 $5,344,000
Human Service Transportation Programs (60903)	FY2009 $5,027,095	FY2010 $5,175,043
Fund Sources:
Special	FY2009 $674,060	FY2010 $697,652
Commonwealth Transportation	FY2009 $261,040,101	FY2010 $274,519,624

Authority: Titles 33.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.

A.1. Except as provided in Item 448 A, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate all monies in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. The total appropriation for the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund is $186,035,124 the first year and $194,366,436 the second year from the Transportation Trust Fund.

2. Included in Human Service Transportation Programs is $1,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Trust Fund. These allocations are designated for “paratransit” capital projects and enhanced transportation services for the elderly and disabled.

3. In accordance with paragraph A 1, $146,911,125 the first year and $152,881,320 the second year is the estimated allocation to statewide Formula Assistance as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. The allocation of Formula Assistance to each recipient shall be limited to the recipient's maximum eligibility as defined in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia. When the initial allocation 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 program for distribution under that program. The Commonwealth Transportation Board may hold harmless from a reduction in state formula assistance any transit system that maintains service levels from the previous year.

4. In accordance with Paragraph A 1, $35,445,961 the first year and $36,728,340 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund is the estimated allocation to statewide Capital Assistance.

5. From the amounts appropriated in this Item from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, $2,126,758 the first year and $2,203,701 the second year is the estimated allocation to statewide Special Programs as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia.

6. Not included in this appropriation is an amount estimated at $22,913,649 the first year and $23,382,741 the second year allocated to transit agencies from federal sources for the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Minimum Guarantee program.

B. 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 and projects designed to reduce the movement of passengers and freight on Virginia's highway system. 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 $4,000,000 the first year and $4,000,000 the second year.

C. 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.

D. 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.

E. It is the intent of the Governor and General Assembly that the principles of local maintenance of effort, transit sustainability, public benefit, and asset management shall be incorporated into all public transportation programs for which funds are appropriated by the General Assembly and allocated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Beginning in the first year, the Director, Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall recommend, and the Board may consider, the establishment of a maintenance of effort requirement to ensure sustained local investment for public transportation operations. In addition, the director shall examine and report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Commonwealth Transportation Board on the establishment and incorporation of all principles no later than June 30, 2009. In the second year, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall begin to incorporate such principles in the allocation of public transportation funding for FY 2010.