Authority: Title 33.1, Code of Virginia.

A. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall conduct a light rail study for Northern Virginia. The study shall consider establishing a light rail system to connect Metrorail and the Northern Virginia Railway Express. The jurisdictions to be included in the study include the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Falls Church, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun. A report with recommendations shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees prior to the 1999 Session of the General Assembly.

B. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall study and develop options and recommendations for a performance-based methodology for distributing state operating aid to local mass transit organizations, and a methodology for distributing state capital support that treats each organization equitably. The study shall also consider the requirements of heavily populated regions of the Commonwealth and the need to provide inter-locality connections in such regions. The Department shall appoint and consult with a technical advisory committee, which shall include representatives of local mass transit organizations and local governments, to assist with the study. The Department shall meet with the technical advisory committee at least three times. The Department's report shall be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and to the Chairman of the Commission on the Future of Transportation (House Joint Resolution 160) by September 1, 1997.