Authority: Title 33.1, Code of Virginia.

A.  Except as provided in Item 448 A., the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall operate the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Program in accordance with § 33.1-221.1:1.2, Code of Virginia.   The Board may allocate funds pursuant to § 33.1-23.1, Code of Virginia, to the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund.  Such allocations shall not exceed $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 the second year.

B.1.  It is the intent of the Governor and the General Assembly that immediately upon the completion of the Statewide Rail Plan in July 2008, a process for determining the appropriate balance of resource allocation between the movement of freight and passengers on Virginia's rail system, particularly between Richmond and Washington, shall be determined based on the principles outlined in Chapter 896 of the 2007 Session of the General Assembly and § 33.1-221.1:1.1 of the Code of Virginia.  Such process recommendations, which shall be completed and reported no later than September 30, 2008, shall be recommended to the Governor, General Assembly, and Commonwealth Transportation Board by the Director, Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

2. In accordance with the intent of the General Assembly, the Statewide Rail Plan shall include specific provisions for the improvement of passenger and freight train performance brought about by track concerns that typically arise during extreme hot weather conditions

3. The Department shall inform the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Transportation and Finance and the House Committees on Transportation and Appropriations on the collaborative effort to improve rail operations on the corridor by December 15, 2008.