                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC PURPOSE; VIRGINIA PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY (§ 33.2-288)

A. 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&#8217;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. 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.

C. 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.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.