DRPT

Transit Funding Portion of SB1140
An act to amend and reenact 33.1-23.4:01, 33.1-269, 58.1-638, and 58.1—815.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to funding for transit

Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund
Implements performance-based funding for mass transit for revenues generated above $160 million in 2014 and after. Creates the Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee to advise the Department of Rail and Public Transportation on the distribution of such funds and how transit systems can incorporate the metrics into their transit development plans.

The 2013 General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1140, which requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to allocate revenues generated for the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund for 2014 and succeeding years as follows:

Funds shall be distributed among operating, capital, and special projects in order to respond to the needs of the transit community;
At least 72 percent shall be allocated to support operating costs of transit providers and distributed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board based on service delivery factors, based on effectiveness and efficiency, as established by the Commonwealth Transportation Board;
Funds for special programs, which shall include ridesharing, transportation demand management assistance, shall not exceed 3 percent of the funds and may be allocated to any local governing body, planning district commission, transportation district commission, or public transit corporation, or maybe used directly by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation;
25 percent of the funds shall be allocated and distributed utilizing a tiered approach evaluated by the Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee along with the Director of DRPT and established by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for capital purposes based on asset need and anticipated state participation level and revenues;
The Commonwealth Transportation Board may consider the transfer of funds from capital and special projects to operating assistance in times of economic distress or statewide special need
The Department of Rail and Public Transportation may reserve a balance of up to five percent of the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund revenues in order to assure better stability in providing operating and capital funding to transit entities from year to year;

SB 1140 Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish a Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee consisting of two members appointed by the Virginia Transit Association, one member appointed by the Community Transportation Association of Virginia, one member appointed by the Virginia Municipal League, one member appointed by the Virginia Association of Counties, and three members appointed by the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, to advise the Department of Rail and Public Transportation in the development of a distribution process for the funds allocated based on performance and tiering, and how the transit systems can incorporate these metrics in their transit development plans. The Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee shall elect a Chair. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall provide administrative support to the committee. Effective July 1, 2013, the Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee shall meet at least annually and consult with interested stakeholders and hold at least one public hearing and report its findings to the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Prior to the Commonwealth Transportation Board approving the service delivery factors, the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation along with the Chair of the Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee shall brief the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Appropriations Committee, and the Senate and House Committees on Transportation on the findings of the Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee and the Department’s recommendations. Before redefining any component of the service delivery factors, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall consult with the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Transit Service Delivery Advisory Committee, and interested stakeholders and provide for a 45-day public comment period. Prior to approval of any amendment to the service delivery measures, the Board shall notify the aforementioned committees of the pending amendment to the service delivery factors and its content.

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