Bill Text: VA HJR87 | 2018 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Interstate I-81; joint subcommittee to study adding additional lanes between Winchester and Bristol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-10 - Failed to pass in House [HJR87 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HJR87-Engrossed.html
WHEREAS, the Interstate 81 corridor accounts for 42 percent of statewide truck traffic and is used to transport $312 billion in goods each year; and
WHEREAS, an average of 2,000 crashes and 30 major truck crashes with clearance times of greater than six hours occur on Interstate 81 each year; and
WHEREAS, the loss of one lane of Interstate 81 causes a 65 percent reduction in highway capacity; and
WHEREAS, delays due to crashes, particularly those involving heavy trucks, undermine the reliability of this important transportation corridor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring,
That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility of adding
additional lanes on Interstate 81 between [ Wytheville Winchester ] and
Bristol. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members
that shall consist of 10 legislative members and one ex officio member. Members
shall be appointed as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the
principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House
of Delegates and four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate
Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Transportation or his designee shall serve
ex officio with voting privileges. If a companion joint resolution of the other
chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.
The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its
membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.
In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall
determine the feasibility and practicality of widening portions of Interstate
81 between [ Wytheville Winchester ] and Bristol to three lanes of
traffic in each direction.
Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.
The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2018 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $18,800 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.
No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.
The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2018, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2018 interim.
