Authority: Titles 33.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.
A.1. Of the amounts shown as Commonwealth Transportation funds, $114,912,102 the first year and $123,356,002 the second year is appropriated from the Transportation Trust Fund.
2. Not included in this appropriation is an amount estimated at $10,122,400 the first year and $10,403,000 the second year allocated directly to transit agencies from federal sources for the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Minimum Guarantee program.
B.1. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate all Commonwealth Mass Transit Funds, as provided in § 58.1-638, Code of Virginia.
2. 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 this 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.
3. Out of the amounts provided for the Transportation Initiative of 2005, $3,900,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be transferred from Item 493.10 of this act.
B1. From funds appropriated in Item 493.10, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate $10,000,000 for a bus rapid transit system in Virginia Beach, $20,000,000 to the Virginia Railway Express for passenger rail car purchases, $40,000,000 for rail car purchases by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and $5,000,000 for a statewide bus purchase and bus facilities. All recipients of such funds shall provide a 20 percent match to cover projects or programs financed by this fund. For purposes of this subparagraph, a program shall be considered a special funding project established by a regional transportation authority and endorsed by each Virginia locality participating in the authority.
C. Out of the amounts for Federal and Regulatory Programs funds estimated at $224,846 the first year and $224,846 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund shall be paid to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission, as provided in the Washington Metropolitan Transit Regulation Compact.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. 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 designed to reduce the use of single occupant vehicles and to increase the use of high occupancy vehicle modes. 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 $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 the second year. Eligible applicants for grants shall include local governing bodies, transportation district commissions, planning district commissions, metropolitan planning organizations, public service corporations, and transportation management associations whose applications are approved by an eligible public recipient or whose Board includes elected representatives from member jurisdictions.
G. Out of the amounts for this item, $800,000 the first year and $800,000 the second year shall be designated for “paratransit” capital projects for the elderly and disabled.