                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

URBAN TRANSIT AGENCY STRATEGIC PLANS (§ 33.2-286)

A. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall develop guidelines,
subject to the approval of the Board, for the development of strategic plans for
transit agencies that (i) serve an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or
more and (ii) have a bus fleet consisting of at least 20 buses.

B. As a condition of receiving funds from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund,
any transit agency that meets the criteria of subsection A shall develop, and
update at least once every five years, a strategic plan using the guidelines
approved by the Board.

C. The guidelines shall require the following:

   1. An assessment of state of good repair needs;

   2. A review of the performance of fixed-route bus service, including
   schedules, route design, connectivity, and vehicle sizes;

   3. An evaluation of opportunities to improve operating efficiency of the
   transit network, including reliability of trips and travel speed;

   4. An examination and identification of opportunities to share services where
   multiple transit providers&#8217; services overlap; and

   5. An examination of opportunities to improve service in underserved areas.

D. In addition to developing and updating a strategic plan pursuant to this
section, in all planning districts with transit systems collectively serving
population areas of not less than 1.5 million nor more than 2 million, such
transit systems shall develop a regional transit planning process coordinated by
the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization. Such planning
process shall include the identification and prioritization of projects, the
establishment of performance benchmarks that incorporate state and federal
requirements, the development and implementation of a regional subsidy
allocation model, and the distribution of funds solely designated for transit
and rail and that are administered by a regional body authorized by this Code to
enter into agreements for the operation and maintenance of transit and rail
facilities.

HISTORY: 2018, cc. 854, 856.