{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-285.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-285.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-285.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-285.html"}],"law_id":64792,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64792,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-285","catch_line":"Responsibilities of Department of Rail and Public Transportation","history":"1992, c. 167, \u00a7 33.1-391.5; 2002, c. 355; 2007, c. 435; 2009, c. 146; 2013, c. 211; 2014, c. 805.","full_text":"The Department of Rail and Public Transportation has the responsibility to:\n\n1\n\nDetermine present and future needs for, and economic feasibility of providing, public transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services and the retention, improvement, and addition of passenger and freight rail transportation in the Commonwealth;2\n\nFormulate and implement plans and programs for the establishment, improvement, development and coordination of public transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services, and the development, retention, and improvement of passenger and freight rail transportation services and corridors in the Commonwealth, including lines for higher speed passenger rail that will shift traffic from the highways to passenger rail and thereby reduce traffic congestion, and coordinate transportation demand management and innovative technological transportation initiatives with the Department of Transportation;3\n\nCoordinate with the Department of Transportation in the conduct of research, policy analysis, and planning for the rail and public transportation modes as may be appropriate to alleviate traffic congestion on highways by shifting traffic to passenger rail and to ensure the provision of effective, safe, and efficient public transportation and passenger and freight rail services in the Commonwealth;4\n\nDevelop uniform financial and operating data on and criteria for evaluating all public transportation activities in the Commonwealth, develop specific methodologies for the collection of such data by public transit operators, regularly and systematically verify such data by means of financial audits and periodic field reviews of operating data collection methodologies, and develop such other information as may be required to evaluate the performance and improve the economy or efficiency of public transit or passenger and freight rail operations, transportation demand management programs, and ridesharing in the Commonwealth;5\n\nCompile and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all abandoned railroad corridors in the Commonwealth abandoned after January 1, 1970;6\n\nProvide training and other technical support services to transportation operators and ridesharing coordinators as may be appropriate to improve public transportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services;7\n\nMaintain liaison with state, local, district, and federal agencies or other entities, private and public, having responsibilities for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation programs;8\n\nReceive, administer, and allocate all planning, operating, capital, and any other grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and other agencies of the United States government for public transportation, passenger and freight rail transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing purposes with approval of the Board and to comply with all conditions attendant thereto;9\n\nAdminister all state grants for public transportation, rail transportation, ridesharing, and transportation demand management purposes with approval of the Board;10\n\nPromote the use of public transportation, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services to improve the mobility of Virginia’s citizens and the transportation of goods;11\n\nRepresent the Commonwealth on local, regional, and national agencies, industry associations, committees, task forces, and other entities, public and private, having responsibility for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation;12\n\nRepresent the Commonwealth’s interests in passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation and coordinate with the Department of Transportation in the planning, location, design, construction, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, purchase, and rehabilitation of facilities and services that affect or are used by passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, or public transportation;13\n\nCoordinate with the State Corporation Commission on all matters dealing with rail safety inspections and rail regulations that fall within its purview;14\n\nPrepare and review state legislation and Commonwealth recommendations on federal legislation and regulations as directed by the Secretary of Transportation;15\n\nPromote public transportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail safety; and16\n\nEnsure the safety of rail fixed guideway transit systems within the Commonwealth and carry out state safety and security oversight responsibilities for rail fixed guideway transit systems as required by the Federal Transit Administration and federal law. For any rail fixed guideway transit system operated within the Commonwealth pursuant to an interstate compact, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall perform its oversight responsibilities in accordance with the interstate compact governing the operation of such system and any applicable federal law.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235742,"text":"The Department of Rail and Public Transportation has the responsibility to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":235743,"text":"Determine present and future needs for, and economic feasibility of providing, public transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services and the retention, improvement, and addition of passenger and freight rail transportation in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":235744,"text":"Formulate and implement plans and programs for the establishment, improvement, development and coordination of public transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services, and the development, retention, and improvement of passenger and freight rail transportation services and corridors in the Commonwealth, including lines for higher speed passenger rail that will shift traffic from the highways to passenger rail and thereby reduce traffic congestion, and coordinate transportation demand management and innovative technological transportation initiatives with the Department of Transportation;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":235745,"text":"Coordinate with the Department of Transportation in the conduct of research, policy analysis, and planning for the rail and public transportation modes as may be appropriate to alleviate traffic congestion on highways by shifting traffic to passenger rail and to ensure the provision of effective, safe, and efficient public transportation and passenger and freight rail services in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":235746,"text":"Develop uniform financial and operating data on and criteria for evaluating all public transportation activities in the Commonwealth, develop specific methodologies for the collection of such data by public transit operators, regularly and systematically verify such data by means of financial audits and periodic field reviews of operating data collection methodologies, and develop such other information as may be required to evaluate the performance and improve the economy or efficiency of public transit or passenger and freight rail operations, transportation demand management programs, and ridesharing in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":235747,"text":"Compile and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all abandoned railroad corridors in the Commonwealth abandoned after January 1, 1970;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":235748,"text":"Provide training and other technical support services to transportation operators and ridesharing coordinators as may be appropriate to improve public transportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":235749,"text":"Maintain liaison with state, local, district, and federal agencies or other entities, private and public, having responsibilities for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation programs;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":235750,"text":"Receive, administer, and allocate all planning, operating, capital, and any other grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and other agencies of the United States government for public transportation, passenger and freight rail transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing purposes with approval of the Board and to comply with all conditions attendant thereto;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":235751,"text":"Administer all state grants for public transportation, rail transportation, ridesharing, and transportation demand management purposes with approval of the Board;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":235752,"text":"Promote the use of public transportation, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services to improve the mobility of Virginia’s citizens and the transportation of goods;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":235753,"text":"Represent the Commonwealth on local, regional, and national agencies, industry associations, committees, task forces, and other entities, public and private, having responsibility for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"12":{"id":235754,"text":"Represent the Commonwealth’s interests in passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation and coordinate with the Department of Transportation in the planning, location, design, construction, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, purchase, and rehabilitation of facilities and services that affect or are used by passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, or public transportation;","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"13":{"id":235755,"text":"Coordinate with the State Corporation Commission on all matters dealing with rail safety inspections and rail regulations that fall within its purview;","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12","next_prefix":"14"},"14":{"id":235756,"text":"Prepare and review state legislation and Commonwealth recommendations on federal legislation and regulations as directed by the Secretary of Transportation;","type":"section","prefixes":["14"],"prefix":"14","entire_prefix":"14","prefix_anchor":"14","level":1,"prior_prefix":"13","next_prefix":"15"},"15":{"id":235757,"text":"Promote public transportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail safety; and","type":"section","prefixes":["15"],"prefix":"15","entire_prefix":"15","prefix_anchor":"15","level":1,"prior_prefix":"14","next_prefix":"16"},"16":{"id":235758,"text":"Ensure the safety of rail fixed guideway transit systems within the Commonwealth and carry out state safety and security oversight responsibilities for rail fixed guideway transit systems as required by the Federal Transit Administration and federal law. For any rail fixed guideway transit system operated within the Commonwealth pursuant to an interstate compact, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall perform its oversight responsibilities in accordance with the interstate compact governing the operation of such system and any applicable federal law.","type":"section","prefixes":["16"],"prefix":"16","entire_prefix":"16","prefix_anchor":"16","level":1,"prior_prefix":"15"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13593,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Rail and Public Transportation","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13136,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:20","permalink":{"id":205257,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13593,"identifier":"5","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13136,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transportation Entities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13135,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":204875,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13136,"identifier":"2","token":"33.2\/I\/2","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13135,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions and Transportation Entities","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12806,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":204787,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13135,"identifier":"I","token":"33.2\/I","url":"\/33.2\/I\/","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":61437,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-281","catch_line":"Policy","url":"\/33.2-281\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-281","metadata":false},{"id":59251,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-282","catch_line":"Department of Rail and Public Transportation created; appointment of Director","url":"\/33.2-282\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-282","metadata":false},{"id":85569,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-283","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation","url":"\/33.2-283\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-283","metadata":false},{"id":54561,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-284","catch_line":"General powers of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation","url":"\/33.2-284\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-284","metadata":false},{"id":64792,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-285","catch_line":"Responsibilities of Department of Rail and Public Transportation","url":"\/33.2-285\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-285","metadata":false},{"id":78032,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-286","catch_line":"Urban transit agency strategic plans","url":"\/33.2-286\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-286","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54561,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-284","catch_line":"General powers of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation","url":"\/33.2-284\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-284","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78032,"structure_id":13593,"section_number":"33.2-286","catch_line":"Urban transit agency strategic plans","url":"\/33.2-286\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-286","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-285\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1992. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 167 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 1992 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 2002, chapter 355<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 435<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 146<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 211<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65424,"section_number":"33.2-219","catch_line":"Statements to be filed with Commonwealth Transportation Board by transit systems","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-219\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":205275,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64792,"identifier":"33.2-285","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-285","url":"\/33.2-285\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-285\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/5\/33.2-285","dublin_core":{"Title":"Responsibilities of Department of Rail and Public Transportation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-285","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Department<\/span> of Rail and Public Transportation<\/span> has the responsibility to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Determine present and future needs for, and economic feasibility of providing, public transportation<\/span>, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services and the retention, improvement, and addition of passenger and freight rail transportation in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Formulate and implement plans and programs for the establishment, improvement, development and coordination of public transportation<\/span>, transportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services, and the development, retention, and improvement of passenger and freight rail transportation services and corridors in the Commonwealth, including lines for higher speed passenger rail that will shift traffic from the highways<\/span> to passenger rail and thereby reduce traffic congestion, and coordinate transportation demand management and innovative technological transportation initiatives with the Department<\/span> of Transportation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Coordinate with the Department<\/span> of Transportation in the conduct of research, policy analysis, and planning for the rail and public transportation<\/span> modes as may be appropriate to alleviate traffic congestion on highways<\/span> by shifting traffic to passenger rail and to ensure the provision of effective, safe, and efficient public transportation<\/span> and passenger and freight rail services in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Develop uniform financial and operating data on and criteria for evaluating all public transportation<\/span> activities in the Commonwealth, develop specific methodologies for the collection of such data by public transit operators, regularly and systematically verify such data by means of financial audits and periodic field reviews of operating data collection methodologies, and develop such other information as may be required to evaluate the performance and improve the economy or efficiency of public transit or passenger and freight rail operations, transportation demand management programs, and ridesharing in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Compile and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all abandoned railroad corridors in the Commonwealth abandoned after January 1, 1970; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Provide training and other technical support services to transportation operators and ridesharing coordinators as may be appropriate to improve public transportation<\/span>, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Maintain liaison with state, local, district, and federal agencies or other entities, private and public, having responsibilities for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation<\/span> programs; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Receive, administer, and allocate all planning, operating, capital, and any other grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway<\/span> Administration, and other agencies of the United States government for public transportation<\/span>, passenger and freight rail transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing purposes with approval of the Board<\/span> and to comply with all conditions attendant thereto; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Administer all state grants for public transportation<\/span>, rail transportation, ridesharing, and transportation demand management purposes with approval of the Board<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Promote the use of public transportation<\/span>, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services to improve the mobility of Virginia’s citizens and the transportation of goods; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Represent the Commonwealth on local, regional, and national agencies, industry associations, committees, task forces, and other entities, public and private, having responsibility for passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> Represent the Commonwealth’s interests in passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation<\/span> and coordinate with the Department<\/span> of Transportation in the planning, location, design, construction, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, purchase, and rehabilitation of facilities and services that affect or are used by passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, or public transportation<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> Coordinate with the State Corporation Commission on all matters dealing with rail safety inspections and rail regulations that fall within its purview; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

14.<\/span> Prepare and review state legislation and Commonwealth recommendations on federal legislation and regulations as directed by the Secretary<\/span> of Transportation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

15.<\/span> Promote public transportation<\/span>, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail safety; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

16.<\/span> Ensure the safety of rail fixed guideway transit systems within the Commonwealth and carry out state safety and security oversight responsibilities for rail fixed guideway transit systems as required by the Federal Transit Administration and federal law<\/span>. For any rail fixed guideway transit system operated within the Commonwealth pursuant to an interstate compact, the Department<\/span> of Rail and Public Transportation<\/span> shall perform its oversight responsibilities in accordance with the interstate compact governing the operation of such system and any applicable federal law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (\u00a7 33.2-285)\n\nThe Department of Rail and Public Transportation has the responsibility to:\n\n1. Determine present and future needs for, and economic feasibility of\nproviding, public transportation, transportation demand management, and\nridesharing facilities and services and the retention, improvement, and addition\nof passenger and freight rail transportation in the Commonwealth;\n\n2. Formulate and implement plans and programs for the establishment,\nimprovement, development and coordination of public transportation,\ntransportation demand management, and ridesharing facilities and services, and\nthe development, retention, and improvement of passenger and freight rail\ntransportation services and corridors in the Commonwealth, including lines for\nhigher speed passenger rail that will shift traffic from the highways to\npassenger rail and thereby reduce traffic congestion, and coordinate\ntransportation demand management and innovative technological transportation\ninitiatives with the Department of Transportation;\n\n3. Coordinate with the Department of Transportation in the conduct of research,\npolicy analysis, and planning for the rail and public transportation modes as\nmay be appropriate to alleviate traffic congestion on highways by shifting\ntraffic to passenger rail and to ensure the provision of effective, safe, and\nefficient public transportation and passenger and freight rail services in the\nCommonwealth;\n\n4. Develop uniform financial and operating data on and criteria for evaluating\nall public transportation activities in the Commonwealth, develop specific\nmethodologies for the collection of such data by public transit operators,\nregularly and systematically verify such data by means of financial audits and\nperiodic field reviews of operating data collection methodologies, and develop\nsuch other information as may be required to evaluate the performance and\nimprove the economy or efficiency of public transit or passenger and freight\nrail operations, transportation demand management programs, and ridesharing in\nthe Commonwealth;\n\n5. Compile and maintain an up-to-date inventory of all abandoned railroad\ncorridors in the Commonwealth abandoned after January 1, 1970;\n\n6. Provide training and other technical support services to transportation\noperators and ridesharing coordinators as may be appropriate to improve public\ntransportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services;\n\n7. Maintain liaison with state, local, district, and federal agencies or other\nentities, private and public, having responsibilities for passenger and freight\nrail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation\nprograms;\n\n8. Receive, administer, and allocate all planning, operating, capital, and any\nother grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal\nRailroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and other agencies\nof the United States government for public transportation, passenger and freight\nrail transportation, transportation demand management, and ridesharing purposes\nwith approval of the Board and to comply with all conditions attendant thereto;\n\n9. Administer all state grants for public transportation, rail transportation,\nridesharing, and transportation demand management purposes with approval of the\nBoard;\n\n10. Promote the use of public transportation, transportation demand management,\nridesharing, and passenger and freight rail services to improve the mobility of\nVirginia’s citizens and the transportation of goods;\n\n11. Represent the Commonwealth on local, regional, and national agencies,\nindustry associations, committees, task forces, and other entities, public and\nprivate, having responsibility for passenger and freight rail, transportation\ndemand management, ridesharing, and public transportation;\n\n12. Represent the Commonwealth’s interests in passenger and freight rail,\ntransportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation and\ncoordinate with the Department of Transportation in the planning, location,\ndesign, construction, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, purchase, and\nrehabilitation of facilities and services that affect or are used by passenger\nand freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, or public\ntransportation;\n\n13. Coordinate with the State Corporation Commission on all matters dealing with\nrail safety inspections and rail regulations that fall within its purview;\n\n14. Prepare and review state legislation and Commonwealth recommendations on\nfederal legislation and regulations as directed by the Secretary of\nTransportation;\n\n15. Promote public transportation, ridesharing, and passenger and freight rail\nsafety; and\n\n16. Ensure the safety of rail fixed guideway transit systems within the\nCommonwealth and carry out state safety and security oversight responsibilities\nfor rail fixed guideway transit systems as required by the Federal Transit\nAdministration and federal law. For any rail fixed guideway transit system\noperated within the Commonwealth pursuant to an interstate compact, the\nDepartment of Rail and Public Transportation shall perform its oversight\nresponsibilities in accordance with the interstate compact governing the\noperation of such system and any applicable federal law.\n\nHISTORY: 1992, c. 167, \u00a7 33.1-391.5; 2002, c. 355; 2007, c. 435; 2009, c. 146;\n2013, c. 211; 2014, c. 805.","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}}