Authority: Titles 33.2 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.

A.1. Except as provided in Item 444, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall allocate all monies in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, as provided herein and in § 33.2-1526.1, Code of Virginia. The total appropriation for the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund is estimated to be $387,900,000 the first year and $423,800,000 the second year from the Transportation Trust Fund. From these funds, the following estimated allocations shall be made:

a. $107,400,000 the first year and $114,560,000 the second year to statewide Operating Assistance as provided in § 33.2-1526.1, Code of Virginia.

b. $56,264,000 the first year and $66,305,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to statewide Capital Assistance.

c. $170,679,000 the first year and $171,288,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission to support the operating and capital costs of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph A.1.a, A.1.b, and A.1.c of this item, prior to the annual adoption of the Six-Year Improvement Program, the Commonwealth Transportation Board may allocate funding from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to implement the transit and transportation demand management improvements identified for the I-95 corridor. Such costs shall include only direct transit capital and operating costs as well as transportation demand management activities. Costs associated with additional park and ride lots required to be funded by the Commonwealth under the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Interstate 95 High Occupancy Toll Lanes project shall be borne by the Department of Transportation as set out in Item 447 of this act.

2. Included in this item is $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 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. Included in this item is an amount estimated at $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Trust Fund. These allocations are designated for federally mandated state safety oversight of fixed rail guideway transit agencies located in the Commonwealth.

4. Included in this item is $50,000,000 the first year as provided in Chapters 854 and 856 of the 2018 Acts of Assembly and $50,000,000 the second year from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund for the state match for the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) funding.

B. Funds from a stable and reliable source, as required in Public Law 96-184, as amended, are to be provided to Metro from payments authorized and allocated in this program and pursuant to §58.1-2295, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds allocated to Metro under this program may be disbursed by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation directly to Metro or to any other transportation entity that has an agreement to provide funding to Metro as deemed appropriate by the Department. In appointing the Virginia members of the board of directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission shall include the Secretary of Transportation or his designee as a principal member on the WMATA board of directors.

C. All Commonwealth Mass Transit Funds appropriated for Financial Assistance for Public Transportation shall be used only for public transportation purposes as defined by the Federal Transit Administration or outlined in § 33.2-1526.1, Code of Virginia.

D. It is the intent of the General Assembly that no transit operating assistance funding, as provided in A.1.a. of this item, be used to support any new transit system or route at a level higher than such project would be eligible for under the allocation formula set out in § 33.2-1526.1 C. 1., Code of Virginia, beyond the first two years of its operation.

E. Distribution of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Capital Fund Revenues represents direct payments, of the revenue collected and deposited into the Fund, to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for uses pursuant to Chapter 34 of Title 33.2, Code of Virginia.

F. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation, in cooperation with Fairfax and Prince William counties, shall evaluate enhanced public transportation services from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to Fort Belvoir, Lorton, Potomac Mills, and Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County, including the cost and feasibility of extending the Blue Line and other multimodal options such as bus rapid transit along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. The Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall submit a report of its findings to the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by December 1, 2021.

G. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall evaluate enhanced public transportation services from the City of Roanoke to the town of Clifton Forge for the purpose of enhanced connectivity to existing Amtrak service, including the potential ridership, cost and feasibility of multimodal transportation options along the Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 220 corridors. The Department shall complete its investigation and report to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees no later than June 30, 2021.

H.1. The Chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission shall convene a workgroup which includes the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, local government representatives, and private sector stakeholders to review the impact of the three percent cap on operating assistance in the approved WMATA budget pursuant to § 33.2-1526.1.J., Code of Virginia. The workgroup shall report to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by November 10, 2020, on the usefulness of the cap and whether additional items should be excluded.

2. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall provide staff support for the workgroup.

I. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall delay the strategic plan requirements, pursuant to § 33.2-286, Code of Virginia, and Enactment Clauses 8 and 10 of Chapters 854 and 856 of the 2018 Acts of Assembly, for urban transit agencies and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.