{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-1915.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-1915.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-1915.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-1915.html"}],"law_id":82445,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82445,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1915","catch_line":"Powers and functions generally","history":"1964, c. 631, \u00a7 15.1-1357; 1970, c. 449; 1972, c. 791; 1974, cc. 161, 566; 1975, c. 6; 1976, c. 566; 1981, c. 444; 1985, c. 257; 1986, c. 438; 1987, c. 158; 1989, c. 150; 1991, c. 231; 1997, c. 587, \u00a7 15.1-4515; 2014, c. 805; 2015, c. 256; 2025, c. 340.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, a commission shall, except as provided in subsection B, have the following powers and functions:1\n\nThe commission shall prepare the transportation plan for the transportation district and shall revise and amend the plan in accordance with the planning process and procedures specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.).2\n\nThe commission may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.), construct or acquire, by purchase or lease, the transportation facilities specified in such transportation plan.3\n\nThe commission may enter into agreements or leases with private companies for the operation of its facilities or may operate such facilities itself.4\n\nThe commission may enter into contracts or agreements with (i) the counties and cities within the transportation district; (ii) counties and cities that adjoin the transportation district and are within the same planning district; (iii) other counties, cities, and towns and commissions when the provision of transit facilities and other modes of transportation will include service to, through, or within such locality or transportation district; or (iv) other commissions of adjoining transportation districts or planning districts to provide, or cause to be provided, transit facilities and service to such counties, cities, and towns or to provide transit facilities and other modes of transportation between adjoining transportation districts or planning district commissions. Such contracts or agreements, together with any agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities, may be utilized by the transportation district to finance the construction and operation of transportation facilities, and such contracts, agreements, or leases shall inure to the benefit of any creditor of the transportation district.\n\t\t\t\tHowever, except in any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, being so delegated by the respective local governments, the commission shall not have the power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within municipalities or across municipal boundaries, which regulation is expressly reserved to the municipalities within which taxicabs operate. In any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, the commission may, upon proper authority granted by the respective component governments, regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within localities or across county or city boundaries.B\n\nThe Northern Virginia Transportation Commission:1\n\nShall not prepare a transportation plan or construct or operate transit facilities, but shall collaborate and cooperate in the manner specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) with an agency in preparing, revising, and amending a transportation plan for such metropolitan area.2\n\nShall, according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) and in cooperation with the governing bodies of the component governments embraced by the transportation district, formulate the tentative policy and decisions of the transportation district with respect to the planning, design, location, construction, operation, and financing of transportation facilities.3\n\nMay, when a transportation plan applicable to such a transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with an agency to contribute to the capital required for the construction or acquisition of transportation facilities and for meeting expenses and obligations in the operations of such facilities.4\n\nMay, when a transportation plan applicable to such transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with the counties and cities within the transportation district to provide or cause to be provided transportation facilities and service to such counties and cities.5\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision in this section to the contrary:\n\t\t\t\ta. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any transportation service;\n\t\t\t\tb. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise in advance of need for sale or contribution to an agency, for use by that agency in connection with an adopted mass transit plan;\n\t\t\t\tc. May, in accordance with the terms of any grant from or loan by the United States of America or the Commonwealth, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or when necessary to preserve essential transportation service, acquire transit facilities or any carrier that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission by acquisition of the capital stock or transit facilities and other assets of any such carrier and shall provide for the performance of transportation by any such carrier or with such transit facilities by contract or lease. However, the contract or lease shall be for a term of no more than one year, renewable for additional terms of similar duration, and, in order to assure acceptable fare levels, may provide for financial assistance by purchase of service, operating subsidies, or otherwise. No such service shall be rendered that will adversely affect transit service rendered by the transit facilities owned or controlled by the agency or any existing private transit or transportation company. When notified by the agency that it is authorized to perform or cause to be performed transportation services with motor vehicle facilities, the commission, upon request by the agency, shall transfer such capital stock or transit facilities to the agency at a price to be agreed upon; and\n\t\t\t\td. May prepare a plan for mass transportation services with cities, counties, agencies, authorities, or commissions and may further contract with transportation companies, cities, counties, commissions, authorities, agencies, and departments of the Commonwealth and appropriate agencies of the federal government or governments contiguous to the Commonwealth to provide necessary facilities, equipment, operations and maintenance, access, and insurance pursuant to such plan.C\n\nThe provisions of subdivisions B 1 through 4 and subdivisions B 5 b and c shall not apply (i) to any transportation district that may be established on or after July 1, 1986, and that includes any one or more localities that are located within a metropolitan area, but that were not, on January 1, 1986, members of any other transportation district or (ii) to any locality that, after July 1, 1989, joins a transportation district that was established on or before January 1, 1986. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to any transportation district or locality that is contiguous to the Northern Virginia Transportation District. Any such district or locality shall be subject to the provisions of subsection A and further may exercise the powers granted by subdivision B 5 a to acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any transportation service.D\n\nUntil such time as a commission enters into contracts or agreements with its component governments under the provisions of subdivisions A 4 and B 4 and is receiving revenues thereunder adequate to meet the administrative expenses of the commission after paying or providing for the payment of the obligations arising under said subdivisions, the administrative expenses of the commission shall be borne by the component governments in the manner set forth in this section. The commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the component counties and cities a budget of its administrative requirements for the next year.E\n\nThe administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments on the basis of population as reflected by the latest population statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau; however, upon the request of any component government, the commission shall make the allocation upon estimates of population prepared in a manner approved by the commission and by the governing body of the component government making such request. The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments on the basis of the relative shares of state and federal transit aids allocated by the Commission among its component governments. Such budget shall be limited solely to the administrative expenses of the Commission and shall not include any funds for construction or acquisition of transportation facilities or the performing of transportation service. In addition, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the component counties and cities a budget of its other expenses and obligations for the ensuing year. Such expenses and obligations shall be borne by the component counties and cities in accordance with prior arrangements made therefor.F\n\nWhen a transportation plan has been adopted under subdivision 4 of § 33.2-1929, the commission shall determine the equitable allocation among the component governments of the costs incurred by the district in providing the transportation facilities proposed in the transportation plan and any expenses and obligations from the operation thereof to be borne by each county and city. In making such determinations, the commission shall consider the cost of the facilities located within each county and city, the population of each county and city, the benefits to be derived by each county and city from the proposed transportation service, and all other factors that the commission determines to be relevant. Such determination, however, shall not create a commitment by the counties and cities, and such commitments shall be created only under the contracts or agreements specified in subdivisions A 4 and B 4.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":295377,"text":"Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, a commission shall, except as provided in subsection B, have the following powers and functions:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":295378,"text":"The commission shall prepare the transportation plan for the transportation district and shall revise and amend the plan in accordance with the planning process and procedures specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":295379,"text":"The commission may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.), construct or acquire, by purchase or lease, the transportation facilities specified in such transportation plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":295380,"text":"The commission may enter into agreements or leases with private companies for the operation of its facilities or may operate such facilities itself.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":295381,"text":"The commission may enter into contracts or agreements with (i) the counties and cities within the transportation district; (ii) counties and cities that adjoin the transportation district and are within the same planning district; (iii) other counties, cities, and towns and commissions when the provision of transit facilities and other modes of transportation will include service to, through, or within such locality or transportation district; or (iv) other commissions of adjoining transportation districts or planning districts to provide, or cause to be provided, transit facilities and service to such counties, cities, and towns or to provide transit facilities and other modes of transportation between adjoining transportation districts or planning district commissions. Such contracts or agreements, together with any agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities, may be utilized by the transportation district to finance the construction and operation of transportation facilities, and such contracts, agreements, or leases shall inure to the benefit of any creditor of the transportation district.\n\t\t\t\tHowever, except in any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, being so delegated by the respective local governments, the commission shall not have the power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within municipalities or across municipal boundaries, which regulation is expressly reserved to the municipalities within which taxicabs operate. In any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, the commission may, upon proper authority granted by the respective component governments, regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within localities or across county or city boundaries.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":295382,"text":"The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"B1"},"6":{"id":295383,"text":"Shall not prepare a transportation plan or construct or operate transit facilities, but shall collaborate and cooperate in the manner specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) with an agency in preparing, revising, and amending a transportation plan for such metropolitan area.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"7":{"id":295384,"text":"Shall, according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) and in cooperation with the governing bodies of the component governments embraced by the transportation district, formulate the tentative policy and decisions of the transportation district with respect to the planning, design, location, construction, operation, and financing of transportation facilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"8":{"id":295385,"text":"May, when a transportation plan applicable to such a transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with an agency to contribute to the capital required for the construction or acquisition of transportation facilities and for meeting expenses and obligations in the operations of such facilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"9":{"id":295386,"text":"May, when a transportation plan applicable to such transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with the counties and cities within the transportation district to provide or cause to be provided transportation facilities and service to such counties and cities.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"10":{"id":295387,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision in this section to the contrary:\n\t\t\t\ta. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any transportation service;\n\t\t\t\tb. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise in advance of need for sale or contribution to an agency, for use by that agency in connection with an adopted mass transit plan;\n\t\t\t\tc. May, in accordance with the terms of any grant from or loan by the United States of America or the Commonwealth, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or when necessary to preserve essential transportation service, acquire transit facilities or any carrier that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission by acquisition of the capital stock or transit facilities and other assets of any such carrier and shall provide for the performance of transportation by any such carrier or with such transit facilities by contract or lease. However, the contract or lease shall be for a term of no more than one year, renewable for additional terms of similar duration, and, in order to assure acceptable fare levels, may provide for financial assistance by purchase of service, operating subsidies, or otherwise. No such service shall be rendered that will adversely affect transit service rendered by the transit facilities owned or controlled by the agency or any existing private transit or transportation company. When notified by the agency that it is authorized to perform or cause to be performed transportation services with motor vehicle facilities, the commission, upon request by the agency, shall transfer such capital stock or transit facilities to the agency at a price to be agreed upon; and\n\t\t\t\td. May prepare a plan for mass transportation services with cities, counties, agencies, authorities, or commissions and may further contract with transportation companies, cities, counties, commissions, authorities, agencies, and departments of the Commonwealth and appropriate agencies of the federal government or governments contiguous to the Commonwealth to provide necessary facilities, equipment, operations and maintenance, access, and insurance pursuant to such plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"C"},"11":{"id":295388,"text":"The provisions of subdivisions B 1 through 4 and subdivisions B 5 b and c shall not apply (i) to any transportation district that may be established on or after July 1, 1986, and that includes any one or more localities that are located within a metropolitan area, but that were not, on January 1, 1986, members of any other transportation district or (ii) to any locality that, after July 1, 1989, joins a transportation district that was established on or before January 1, 1986. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to any transportation district or locality that is contiguous to the Northern Virginia Transportation District. Any such district or locality shall be subject to the provisions of subsection A and further may exercise the powers granted by subdivision B 5 a to acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any transportation service.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"D"},"12":{"id":295389,"text":"Until such time as a commission enters into contracts or agreements with its component governments under the provisions of subdivisions A 4 and B 4 and is receiving revenues thereunder adequate to meet the administrative expenses of the commission after paying or providing for the payment of the obligations arising under said subdivisions, the administrative expenses of the commission shall be borne by the component governments in the manner set forth in this section. The commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the component counties and cities a budget of its administrative requirements for the next year.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"13":{"id":295390,"text":"The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments on the basis of population as reflected by the latest population statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau; however, upon the request of any component government, the commission shall make the allocation upon estimates of population prepared in a manner approved by the commission and by the governing body of the component government making such request. The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments on the basis of the relative shares of state and federal transit aids allocated by the Commission among its component governments. Such budget shall be limited solely to the administrative expenses of the Commission and shall not include any funds for construction or acquisition of transportation facilities or the performing of transportation service. In addition, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the component counties and cities a budget of its other expenses and obligations for the ensuing year. Such expenses and obligations shall be borne by the component counties and cities in accordance with prior arrangements made therefor.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"14":{"id":295391,"text":"When a transportation plan has been adopted under subdivision 4 of § 33.2-1929, the commission shall determine the equitable allocation among the component governments of the costs incurred by the district in providing the transportation facilities proposed in the transportation plan and any expenses and obligations from the operation thereof to be borne by each county and city. In making such determinations, the commission shall consider the cost of the facilities located within each county and city, the population of each county and city, the benefits to be derived by each county and city from the proposed transportation service, and all other factors that the commission determines to be relevant. Such determination, however, shall not create a commitment by the counties and cities, and such commitments shall be created only under the contracts or agreements specified in subdivisions A 4 and B 4.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14657,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers and Functions of Commission","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12902,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:11","permalink":{"id":207033,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14657,"identifier":"4","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4","url":"\/33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12902,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transportation District Act of 1964","identifier":"19","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12807,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":206945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12902,"identifier":"19","token":"33.2\/IV\/19","url":"\/33.2\/IV\/19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12807,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local and Regional Transportation","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12806,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":206943,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12807,"identifier":"IV","token":"33.2\/IV","url":"\/33.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12806,"edition_id":1,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":204785,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12806,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82445,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1915","catch_line":"Powers and functions generally","url":"\/33.2-1915\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1915","metadata":false},{"id":56238,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1916","catch_line":"Commission control of transportation district","url":"\/33.2-1916\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1916","metadata":false},{"id":80699,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1917","catch_line":"Protection of employees of public transportation systems","url":"\/33.2-1917\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1917","metadata":false},{"id":70119,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1918","catch_line":"Background checks of applicants and employees","url":"\/33.2-1918\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1918","metadata":false},{"id":83467,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1919","catch_line":"Additional powers","url":"\/33.2-1919\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1919","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":56238,"structure_id":14657,"section_number":"33.2-1916","catch_line":"Commission control of transportation district","url":"\/33.2-1916\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1916","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-1915\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1964. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 631 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1964 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 449; in 1972, chapter 791; in 1974, chapters 161 and 566; in 1975, chapter 6; in 1976, chapter 566; in 1981, chapter 444; in 1985, chapter 257; in 1986, chapter 438; in 1987, chapter 158; in 1989, chapter 150; in 1991, chapter 231; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 256<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 340<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74418,"section_number":"33.2-1907","catch_line":"Members of transportation commissions","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1907\/"},{"id":80699,"section_number":"33.2-1917","catch_line":"Protection of employees of public transportation systems","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1917\/"},{"id":83467,"section_number":"33.2-1919","catch_line":"Additional powers","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1919\/"},{"id":68024,"section_number":"33.2-1925","catch_line":"Appropriations","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1925\/"},{"id":71359,"section_number":"33.2-1927","catch_line":"Liabilities of Commonwealth, counties, and cities","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1927\/"},{"id":79258,"section_number":"33.2-1928","catch_line":"Planning process","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1928\/"},{"id":82846,"section_number":"58.1-2295","catch_line":"Levy; payment of tax","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-2295\/"},{"id":57267,"section_number":"58.1-2299.2","catch_line":"Certificates of registration; issuance; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-2299.2\/"},{"id":56491,"section_number":"58.1-2299.20","catch_line":"Disposition of tax revenues","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-2299.20\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":79258,"section_number":"33.2-1928","catch_line":"Planning process","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1928\/"},{"id":74668,"section_number":"33.2-1929","catch_line":"Procedures","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1929\/"}],"permalink":{"id":207035,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82445,"identifier":"33.2-1915","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1915","url":"\/33.2-1915\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-1915\/","token":"33.2\/IV\/19\/4\/33.2-1915","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and functions generally","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-1915","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law<\/span>, a commission<\/span> shall, except as provided in subsection B, have the following powers and functions: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The commission<\/span> shall prepare the transportation plan for the transportation district<\/span> and shall revise and amend<\/span> the plan in accordance with the planning process and procedures specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928<\/a> et seq.). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The commission<\/span> may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928<\/a> et seq.), construct or acquire, by purchase or lease, the transportation facilities<\/span> specified in such transportation plan. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The commission<\/span> may enter into agreements or leases with private companies for the operation of its facilities<\/span> or may operate such facilities<\/span> itself. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The commission<\/span> may enter into contracts<\/span> or agreements with (i) the counties and cities within the transportation district; (ii) counties and cities that adjoin the transportation district and are within the same planning district; (iii) other counties, cities, and towns and commissions when the provision of transit facilities<\/span> and other modes of transportation will include service to, through, or within such locality or transportation district; or (iv) other commissions of adjoining transportation districts<\/span> or planning districts<\/span> to provide, or cause to be provided, transit facilities<\/span> and service to such counties, cities, and towns or to provide transit facilities<\/span> and other modes of transportation between adjoining transportation districts<\/span> or planning district commissions<\/span>. Such contracts<\/span> or agreements, together with any agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities<\/span>, may be utilized by the transportation district to finance the construction and operation of transportation facilities<\/span>, and such contracts<\/span>, agreements, or leases shall inure to the benefit of any creditor<\/span> of the transportation district.\n\t\t\t\tHowever, except in any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, being so delegated by the respective local governments, the commission<\/span> shall not have the power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within municipalities or across municipal boundaries, which regulation is expressly reserved to the municipalities within which taxicabs operate. In any transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, the commission<\/span> may, upon proper authority granted by the respective component governments<\/span>, regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within localities or across county or city boundaries. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Shall not prepare a transportation plan or construct or operate transit facilities<\/span>, but shall collaborate and cooperate in the manner specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928<\/a> et seq.) with an agency<\/span> in preparing, revising, and amending a transportation plan for such metropolitan area<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Shall, according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928<\/a> et seq.) and in cooperation with the governing bodies<\/span> of the component governments<\/span> embraced by the transportation district, formulate the tentative policy and decisions of the transportation district with respect to the planning, design, location, construction, operation, and financing of transportation facilities<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> May, when a transportation plan applicable to such a transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts<\/span> or agreements with an agency<\/span> to contribute to the capital required for the construction or acquisition of transportation facilities<\/span> and for meeting expenses and obligations in the operations of such facilities<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> May, when a transportation plan applicable to such transportation district is adopted, enter into contracts<\/span> or agreements with the counties and cities within the transportation district to provide or cause to be provided transportation facilities<\/span> and service to such counties and cities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision in this section to the contrary:\n\t\t\t\ta. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities<\/span> thereon for use in connection with any transportation service;\n\t\t\t\tb. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise in advance of need for sale or contribution to an agency<\/span>, for use by that agency<\/span> in connection with an adopted mass transit<\/span> plan;\n\t\t\t\tc. May, in accordance with the terms of any grant from or loan by the United States of America or the Commonwealth, or any agency<\/span> or instrumentality thereof, or when necessary to preserve essential transportation service, acquire transit facilities<\/span> or any carrier that is subject to the jurisdiction<\/span> of the Washington Metropolitan Area<\/span> Transit Commission<\/span> by acquisition of the capital stock or transit facilities<\/span> and other assets<\/span> of any such carrier and shall provide for the performance of transportation by any such carrier or with such transit facilities<\/span> by contract<\/span> or lease. However, the contract<\/span> or lease shall be for a term of no more than one year, renewable for additional terms of similar duration, and, in order<\/span> to assure acceptable fare levels, may provide for financial assistance by purchase of service, operating subsidies, or otherwise. No such service shall be rendered that will adversely affect transit service rendered by the transit facilities<\/span> owned or controlled by the agency<\/span> or any existing private transit or transportation company. When notified by the agency<\/span> that it is authorized to perform or cause to be performed transportation services with motor vehicle facilities<\/span>, the commission<\/span>, upon request by the agency<\/span>, shall transfer such capital stock or transit facilities<\/span> to the agency<\/span> at a price to be agreed upon; and\n\t\t\t\td. May prepare a plan for mass transportation services with cities, counties, agencies, authorities, or commissions and may further contract<\/span> with transportation companies, cities, counties, commissions, authorities, agencies, and departments<\/span> of the Commonwealth and appropriate agencies of the federal government or governments contiguous to the Commonwealth to provide necessary facilities<\/span>, equipment, operations and maintenance<\/span>, access, and insurance pursuant to such plan. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The provisions of subdivisions B 1 through 4 and subdivisions B 5 b and c shall not apply (i) to any transportation district that may be established on or after July 1, 1986, and that includes any one or more localities that are located within a metropolitan area<\/span>, but that were not, on January 1, 1986, members of any other transportation district or (ii) to any locality that, after July 1, 1989, joins a transportation district that was established on or before January 1, 1986. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to any transportation district or locality that is contiguous to the Northern Virginia Transportation District. Any such district or locality shall be subject to the provisions of subsection A and further may exercise the powers granted by subdivision B 5 a to acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities<\/span> thereon for use in connection with any transportation service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Until such time as a commission<\/span> enters into contracts<\/span> or agreements with its component governments<\/span> under the provisions of subdivisions A 4 and B 4 and is receiving revenues thereunder adequate to meet the administrative expenses of the commission<\/span> after paying or providing for the payment of the obligations arising under said subdivisions, the administrative expenses of the commission<\/span> shall be borne by the component governments<\/span> in the manner set forth in this section. The commission<\/span> annually shall submit to the governing bodies<\/span> of the component counties and cities a budget of its administrative requirements for the next year. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission<\/span>, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments<\/span> on the basis of population as reflected by the latest population statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau; however, upon the request of any component government, the commission<\/span> shall make the allocation upon estimates of population prepared in a manner approved by the commission<\/span> and by the governing body of the component government making such request. The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission<\/span>, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments<\/span> on the basis of the relative shares of state and federal transit aids allocated by the Commission<\/span> among its component governments<\/span>. Such budget shall be limited solely to the administrative expenses of the Commission<\/span> and shall not include any funds for construction or acquisition of transportation facilities<\/span> or the performing of transportation service. In addition, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission<\/span> annually shall submit to the governing bodies<\/span> of the component counties and cities a budget of its other expenses and obligations for the ensuing year. Such expenses and obligations shall be borne by the component counties and cities in accordance with prior arrangements made therefor. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> When a transportation plan has been adopted under subdivision 4 of § 33.2-1929<\/a>, the commission<\/span> shall determine the equitable<\/span> allocation among the component governments<\/span> of the costs incurred by the district in providing the transportation facilities<\/span> proposed in the transportation plan and any expenses and obligations from the operation thereof to be borne by each county and city. In making such determinations, the commission<\/span> shall consider the cost of the facilities<\/span> located within each county and city, the population of each county and city, the benefits to be derived by each county and city from the proposed transportation service, and all other factors that the commission<\/span> determines to be relevant. Such determination, however, shall not create a commitment by the counties and cities, and such commitments shall be created only under the contracts<\/span> or agreements specified in subdivisions A 4 and B 4. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND FUNCTIONS GENERALLY (\u00a7 33.2-1915)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, a commission shall,\nexcept as provided in subsection B, have the following powers and functions:\n\n 1. The commission shall prepare the transportation plan for the transportation\n district and shall revise and amend the plan in accordance with the planning\n process and procedures specified in Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.).\n\n 2. The commission may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to\n Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.), construct or acquire, by purchase or\n lease, the transportation facilities specified in such transportation plan.\n\n 3. The commission may enter into agreements or leases with private companies\n for the operation of its facilities or may operate such facilities itself.\n\n 4. The commission may enter into contracts or agreements with (i) the counties\n and cities within the transportation district; (ii) counties and cities that\n adjoin the transportation district and are within the same planning district;\n (iii) other counties, cities, and towns and commissions when the provision of\n transit facilities and other modes of transportation will include service to,\n through, or within such locality or transportation district; or (iv) other\n commissions of adjoining transportation districts or planning districts to\n provide, or cause to be provided, transit facilities and service to such\n counties, cities, and towns or to provide transit facilities and other modes\n of transportation between adjoining transportation districts or planning\n district commissions. Such contracts or agreements, together with any\n agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities, may be utilized by\n the transportation district to finance the construction and operation of\n transportation facilities, and such contracts, agreements, or leases shall\n inure to the benefit of any creditor of the transportation district.\n \t\t\t\tHowever, except in any transportation district containing any or all of\n the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond,\n being so delegated by the respective local governments, the commission shall\n not have the power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within\n municipalities or across municipal boundaries, which regulation is expressly\n reserved to the municipalities within which taxicabs operate. In any\n transportation district containing any or all of the Counties of Chesterfield,\n Hanover, and Henrico or the City of Richmond, the commission may, upon proper\n authority granted by the respective component governments, regulate services\n provided by taxicabs, either within localities or across county or city\n boundaries.\n\nB. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission:\n\n 1. Shall not prepare a transportation plan or construct or operate transit\n facilities, but shall collaborate and cooperate in the manner specified in\n Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) with an agency in preparing, revising,\n and amending a transportation plan for such metropolitan area.\n\n 2. Shall, according to Article 7 (§ 33.2-1928 et seq.) and in cooperation\n with the governing bodies of the component governments embraced by the\n transportation district, formulate the tentative policy and decisions of the\n transportation district with respect to the planning, design, location,\n construction, operation, and financing of transportation facilities.\n\n 3. May, when a transportation plan applicable to such a transportation\n district is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with an agency to\n contribute to the capital required for the construction or acquisition of\n transportation facilities and for meeting expenses and obligations in the\n operations of such facilities.\n\n 4. May, when a transportation plan applicable to such transportation district\n is adopted, enter into contracts or agreements with the counties and cities\n within the transportation district to provide or cause to be provided\n transportation facilities and service to such counties and cities.\n\n 5. Notwithstanding any other provision in this section to the contrary:\n \t\t\t\ta. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift,\n condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon for\n use in connection with any transportation service;\n \t\t\t\tb. May acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, gift,\n condemnation, or otherwise in advance of need for sale or contribution to an\n agency, for use by that agency in connection with an adopted mass transit\n plan;\n \t\t\t\tc. May, in accordance with the terms of any grant from or loan by the\n United States of America or the Commonwealth, or any agency or instrumentality\n thereof, or when necessary to preserve essential transportation service,\n acquire transit facilities or any carrier that is subject to the jurisdiction\n of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission by acquisition of the\n capital stock or transit facilities and other assets of any such carrier and\n shall provide for the performance of transportation by any such carrier or\n with such transit facilities by contract or lease. However, the contract or\n lease shall be for a term of no more than one year, renewable for additional\n terms of similar duration, and, in order to assure acceptable fare levels, may\n provide for financial assistance by purchase of service, operating subsidies,\n or otherwise. No such service shall be rendered that will adversely affect\n transit service rendered by the transit facilities owned or controlled by the\n agency or any existing private transit or transportation company. When\n notified by the agency that it is authorized to perform or cause to be\n performed transportation services with motor vehicle facilities, the\n commission, upon request by the agency, shall transfer such capital stock or\n transit facilities to the agency at a price to be agreed upon; and\n \t\t\t\td. May prepare a plan for mass transportation services with cities,\n counties, agencies, authorities, or commissions and may further contract with\n transportation companies, cities, counties, commissions, authorities,\n agencies, and departments of the Commonwealth and appropriate agencies of the\n federal government or governments contiguous to the Commonwealth to provide\n necessary facilities, equipment, operations and maintenance, access, and\n insurance pursuant to such plan.\n\nC. The provisions of subdivisions B 1 through 4 and subdivisions B 5 b and c\nshall not apply (i) to any transportation district that may be established on or\nafter July 1, 1986, and that includes any one or more localities that are\nlocated within a metropolitan area, but that were not, on January 1, 1986,\nmembers of any other transportation district or (ii) to any locality that, after\nJuly 1, 1989, joins a transportation district that was established on or before\nJanuary 1, 1986. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to any\ntransportation district or locality that is contiguous to the Northern Virginia\nTransportation District. Any such district or locality shall be subject to the\nprovisions of subsection A and further may exercise the powers granted by\nsubdivision B 5 a to acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease,\ngift, condemnation, or otherwise and provide transportation facilities thereon\nfor use in connection with any transportation service.\n\nD. Until such time as a commission enters into contracts or agreements with its\ncomponent governments under the provisions of subdivisions A 4 and B 4 and is\nreceiving revenues thereunder adequate to meet the administrative expenses of\nthe commission after paying or providing for the payment of the obligations\narising under said subdivisions, the administrative expenses of the commission\nshall be borne by the component governments in the manner set forth in this\nsection. The commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the\ncomponent counties and cities a budget of its administrative requirements for\nthe next year.\n\nE. The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia Transportation\nCommission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not provided from other\nsources, shall be allocated among the component governments on the basis of\npopulation as reflected by the latest population statistics of the U.S. Census\nBureau; however, upon the request of any component government, the commission\nshall make the allocation upon estimates of population prepared in a manner\napproved by the commission and by the governing body of the component government\nmaking such request. The administrative expenses of the Northern Virginia\nTransportation Commission, to the extent funds for such expenses are not\nprovided from other sources, shall be allocated among the component governments\non the basis of the relative shares of state and federal transit aids allocated\nby the Commission among its component governments. Such budget shall be limited\nsolely to the administrative expenses of the Commission and shall not include\nany funds for construction or acquisition of transportation facilities or the\nperforming of transportation service. In addition, the Northern Virginia\nTransportation Commission annually shall submit to the governing bodies of the\ncomponent counties and cities a budget of its other expenses and obligations for\nthe ensuing year. Such expenses and obligations shall be borne by the component\ncounties and cities in accordance with prior arrangements made therefor.\n\nF. When a transportation plan has been adopted under subdivision 4 of §\n33.2-1929, the commission shall determine the equitable allocation among the\ncomponent governments of the costs incurred by the district in providing the\ntransportation facilities proposed in the transportation plan and any expenses\nand obligations from the operation thereof to be borne by each county and city.\nIn making such determinations, the commission shall consider the cost of the\nfacilities located within each county and city, the population of each county\nand city, the benefits to be derived by each county and city from the proposed\ntransportation service, and all other factors that the commission determines to\nbe relevant. Such determination, however, shall not create a commitment by the\ncounties and cities, and such commitments shall be created only under the\ncontracts or agreements specified in subdivisions A 4 and B 4.\n\nHISTORY: 1964, c. 631, \u00a7 15.1-1357; 1970, c. 449; 1972, c. 791; 1974, cc. 161,\n566; 1975, c. 6; 1976, c. 566; 1981, c. 444; 1985, c. 257; 1986, c. 438; 1987,\nc. 158; 1989, c. 150; 1991, c. 231; 1997, c. 587, \u00a7 15.1-4515; 2014, c. 805;\n2015, c. 256; 2025, c. 340.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}