                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

NORTHERN VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY CREATED (§ 33.2-2500)

There is hereby created a political subdivision of the Commonwealth known as the
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, for purposes of this chapter
referred to as &#8220;the Authority.&#8221;
		In addition to such other powers vested in the Authority by this chapter, the
Authority shall have the following powers and functions:

1. The Authority shall prepare a regional transportation plan for Planning
District 8 that includes transportation improvements of regional significance
and those improvements necessary or incidental thereto and shall revise and
amend the plan. The provisions of Article 7 (&#xA7; 33.2-1928 et seq.) of
Chapter 19 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to preparation of such transportation
plan.

2. The Authority shall evaluate all significant transportation projects,
including highway, mass transit, and technology projects, in and near Planning
District 8, to the extent that funds are available for such purpose. The
evaluation shall provide an objective, quantitative rating for each project
according to the degree to which the project is expected to reduce congestion
and, to the extent feasible, the degree to which the project is expected to
improve regional mobility in the event of a homeland security emergency. Such
evaluation shall rely on analytical techniques and transportation modeling,
including those that employ computer simulations currently and customarily
employed in transportation planning. The Authority may rely on the results of
transportation modeling performed by other entities, including the Department of
Transportation and private entities contracted for this purpose, provided that
such modeling is in accordance with this section. The Authority shall publicize
the quantitative ratings determined for each project on its website and complete
the evaluation at least once every four years, with interim progress reports
provided on the website at least once every six months.
			For purposes of this section, the significant transportation projects to be
evaluated may include:
			a. Projects included in the version of the Financially Constrained Long-Range
Transportation Plan of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board
in effect when the evaluation is made, plus additional projects in the plan
adopted according to subdivision 1; and
			b. Other highway, rail, bus, and technology projects that could make a
significant impact on mobility in the region, including additional Potomac River
crossings west and south of Washington, D.C.; extension of the Metro Orange
Line, Metro Yellow Line, and Metro Blue Line; bus rapid transit on Interstate
66; vehicle capacity and mass transit improvements on the U.S. Route 1 corridor;
and implementation of relevant portions of the Statewide Transportation Plan
established pursuant to &#xA7; 33.2-353.

3. The Authority may, when a transportation plan is adopted according to
subdivision 1, construct or acquire, by purchase, lease, contract, or otherwise,
the transportation facilities specified in such transportation plan.

4. The Authority may enter into agreements or leases with public or private
entities for the operation of its facilities or may operate such facilities
itself.

5. The Authority may enter into contracts or agreements with the counties and
cities embraced by the Authority, with other transportation commissions of
transportation districts adjoining any county or city embraced by the Authority,
with any transportation authority, or with any federal, state, local, or private
entity to provide, or cause to be provided, transportation facilities and
services to the area embraced by the Authority. Such contracts or agreements,
together with any agreements or leases for the operation of such facilities, may
be used by the Authority 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 Authority.
			Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 through 5, the Authority shall not have the
power to regulate services provided by taxicabs, either within municipalities or
across municipal boundaries; such regulation is expressly reserved to the
municipalities within which taxicabs operate.

6. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Authority
may:
			a. Acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, or gift and
provide transportation facilities thereon for use in connection with any
transportation service;
			b. Acquire land or any interest therein by purchase, lease, or gift in
advance of the need for sale or contribution to an agency, for use by that
agency in connection with an adopted transportation plan; and
			c. Prepare a plan for mass transportation services with persons, counties,
cities, agencies, authorities, or transportation commissions and may further
contract with any such person or entity to provide necessary facilities,
equipment, operations and maintenance, access, and insurance pursuant to such
plan.

HISTORY: 2002, c. 846, § 15.2-4830; 2014, c. 805; 2019, c. 749.