{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-288.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-288.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-288.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-288.html"}],"law_id":83123,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83123,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-288","catch_line":"Declaration of public purpose; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority","history":"2020, cc. 1230, 1275.","full_text":"A\n\nThe General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is the policy of the Commonwealth to improve, identify, encourage, and promote new approaches to economic development throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) passenger rail travel and services are integral to the economic development and expansion of the Commonwealth’s economy; and (iii) there exists in the Commonwealth a need to increase passenger rail capacity in the Commonwealth and improve passenger rail services.B\n\nIn order to increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail services, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways, and promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth, there is hereby created a body corporate and political subdivision of the Commonwealth to be known as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The Authority is hereby constituted as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise of powers conferred by this article shall be deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired.C\n\nThe purpose of the Authority shall be to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth and to increase ridership of such service by connecting population centers with passenger and commuter rail service and increasing availability of such service.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297882,"text":"The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is the policy of the Commonwealth to improve, identify, encourage, and promote new approaches to economic development throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) passenger rail travel and services are integral to the economic development and expansion of the Commonwealth’s economy; and (iii) there exists in the Commonwealth a need to increase passenger rail capacity in the Commonwealth and improve passenger rail services.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":297883,"text":"In order to increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail services, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways, and promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth, there is hereby created a body corporate and political subdivision of the Commonwealth to be known as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The Authority is hereby constituted as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise of powers conferred by this article shall be deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":297884,"text":"The purpose of the Authority shall be to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth and to increase ridership of such service by connecting population centers with passenger and commuter rail service and increasing availability of such service.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14957,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Act","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13136,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:05","permalink":{"id":205283,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14957,"identifier":"6","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/6\/","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":65292,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-287","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/33.2-287\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-287","metadata":false},{"id":83123,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-288","catch_line":"Declaration of public purpose; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority","url":"\/33.2-288\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-288","metadata":false},{"id":61923,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-289","catch_line":"Board of Directors","url":"\/33.2-289\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-289","metadata":false},{"id":80981,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-290","catch_line":"Executive Director; agents and employees","url":"\/33.2-290\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-290","metadata":false},{"id":76138,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-291","catch_line":"Local authorities subordinate to Authority","url":"\/33.2-291\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-291","metadata":false},{"id":64713,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-292","catch_line":"Powers of the Authority","url":"\/33.2-292\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-292","metadata":false},{"id":67230,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-293","catch_line":"Acquisition, possession, and disposition of rail facilities; eminent domain","url":"\/33.2-293\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-293","metadata":false},{"id":69208,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-294","catch_line":"Issuance of bonds","url":"\/33.2-294\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-294","metadata":false},{"id":82882,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-295","catch_line":"Deposit and investment of funds","url":"\/33.2-295\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-295","metadata":false},{"id":76260,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-296","catch_line":"Revenues of the Authority","url":"\/33.2-296\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-296","metadata":false},{"id":77741,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-297","catch_line":"Moneys of Authority","url":"\/33.2-297\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-297","metadata":false},{"id":67167,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-298","catch_line":"Annual budget","url":"\/33.2-298\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-298","metadata":false},{"id":63198,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299","catch_line":"Recordkeeping; audits","url":"\/33.2-299\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299","metadata":false},{"id":77868,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.1","catch_line":"Exemption of Authority from personnel and procurement procedures","url":"\/33.2-299.1\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.1","metadata":false},{"id":81757,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.2","catch_line":"Police powers; Authority rules and regulations","url":"\/33.2-299.2\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.2","metadata":false},{"id":70141,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.3","catch_line":"Governmental function; exemption from taxation","url":"\/33.2-299.3\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.3","metadata":false},{"id":57064,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.4","catch_line":"Cooperation with federal agencies","url":"\/33.2-299.4\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.4","metadata":false},{"id":82633,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.5","catch_line":"Continuing responsibilities of the Transportation Board and the Department","url":"\/33.2-299.5\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.5","metadata":false},{"id":66867,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.6","catch_line":"Dissolution of Authority","url":"\/33.2-299.6\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.6","metadata":false},{"id":59906,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.7","catch_line":"Exclusions from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; proprietary records and trade secrets","url":"\/33.2-299.7\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.7","metadata":false},{"id":75391,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-299.8","catch_line":"Liberal construction","url":"\/33.2-299.8\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-299.8","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65292,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-287","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/33.2-287\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-287","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61923,"structure_id":14957,"section_number":"33.2-289","catch_line":"Board of Directors","url":"\/33.2-289\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-289","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-288\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 1230<\/a> and 1275<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64713,"section_number":"33.2-292","catch_line":"Powers of the Authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-292\/"},{"id":82633,"section_number":"33.2-299.5","catch_line":"Continuing responsibilities of the Transportation Board and the Department","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-299.5\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":205289,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83123,"identifier":"33.2-288","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-288","url":"\/33.2-288\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-288\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/6\/33.2-288","dublin_core":{"Title":"Declaration of public purpose; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-288","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is the policy of the Commonwealth to improve, identify, encourage, and promote new approaches to economic development throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) passenger rail travel and services are integral to the economic development and expansion of the Commonwealth’s economy; and (iii) there exists in the Commonwealth a need to increase passenger rail capacity in the Commonwealth and improve passenger rail services. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In order<\/span> to increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail services, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways<\/span>, and promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth, there is hereby created a body corporate and political subdivision of the Commonwealth to be known as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority<\/span>. The Authority<\/span> is hereby constituted as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise of powers conferred by this article shall be deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The purpose of the Authority<\/span> shall be to promote, sustain<\/span>, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth and to increase ridership of such service by connecting population centers with passenger and commuter rail service and increasing availability of such service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDECLARATION OF PUBLIC PURPOSE; VIRGINIA PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY (\u00a7 33.2-288)\n\nA. The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is the policy of the\nCommonwealth to improve, identify, encourage, and promote new approaches to\neconomic development throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) passenger rail travel and\nservices are integral to the economic development and expansion of the\nCommonwealth’s economy; and (iii) there exists in the Commonwealth a need\nto increase passenger rail capacity in the Commonwealth and improve passenger\nrail services.\n\nB. In order to increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail\nservices, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways,\nand promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth, there\nis hereby created a body corporate and political subdivision of the Commonwealth\nto be known as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The Authority is hereby\nconstituted as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential\ngovernmental functions, and the exercise of powers conferred by this article\nshall be deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and\nmatters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private\nproperty acquired.\n\nC. The purpose of the Authority shall be to promote, sustain, and expand the\navailability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth and to\nincrease ridership of such service by connecting population centers with\npassenger and commuter rail service and increasing availability of such service.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.","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}}