33.1-46.1 - Highway aid to mass transit.
§ 33.1-46.1. Highway aid to mass transit.
In allocating highway funds the Commonwealth Transportation Board may usesuch funds for highway aid to mass transit facilities when such use will bestaccomplish the purpose of serving the transportation needs of the greatestnumber of people.
Highway aid to mass transit may be accomplished (i) by using highway funds toaid in paying transit operating costs borne by localities and/or (ii) byacquisition or construction of transit-related highway facilities such asexclusive bus lanes, bus turn-outs, bus passenger shelters, fringe parkingfacilities, including necessary access roads, to promote transit use andrelieve highway congestion, off-street parking facilities to permit exclusiveuse of curb lane by buses, and by permitting mass transit facilities tooccupy highway median strips without the reimbursement required by § 33.1-97,all to the end that highway traffic may be relieved through the developmentof more efficient mass transit.
Expenditures of funds under the authority of this section shall be made fromfunds available for the construction of state highways within theconstruction district in which the transit facilities are wholly or partlylocated.
The Board may at its discretion contract with the governing bodies comprisinga transportation district, or in its discretion, other local governingbodies, for the accomplishment of a project to which funds have beenallocated under the provisions of this section. Whenever such projects arebeing financed by advance annual allocation of funds, the Board may make suchfunds available to the contracting governing bodies in annual incrementswhich may be used for other transit purposes until needed for the project forwhich allocated; however, the Board may require bond or other satisfactoryassurance of final completion of the contract.
The Board may also, at the request of local governing bodies, use fundsallocated for urban highways or secondary roads within their jurisdiction toaccomplish the purposes of this section.
The General Assembly may, through the general appropriation act, (i) providefor limits on the amounts or purposes of allocations made under this sectionand (ii) provide for the transfer of allocations from one eligible recipientto another.
(Code 1950, § 33-35.8; 1970, c. 503; 1972, c. 490; 1973, c. 508; 1977, c.578; 1980, c. 373; 1986, c. 392; 1998, cc. 905, 907.)