Tri-Jurisdiction Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation Resolution of 2000
PR 13-1014

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A RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Carol Schwartz introduced the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment and the Committee on Local and Regional Affairs.

To authorize the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia to select District representatives to a Tri-Jurisdiction Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation which shall advise the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor on efforts to address interstate transportation issues in the Washington Metropolitan Region.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution may be cited as the "Tri-Jurisdiction Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation Resolution of 2000".

Sec. 2. The Council finds that the following circumstances exist with regard to transportation in the Washington Metropolitan Region:

(a) The Washington Metropolitan Region's substantial investment in mass transit requires increased funding to permit adequate maintenance, rehabilitation, and expansion.

(b) The revenue stream available to the District of Columbia is not sufficient to finance the maintenance, rehabilitation and expansion of the regional transit system.

(c) Increasing growth without adequate infrastructure threatens the quality of life of the Washington Metropolitan Region and further strains the region's transportation network.

(d) The growth component of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Strategic Plan of November, 1999 calls for COG to "Promote balanced, sustainable and livable communities," and to that end the Vision Plan of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board in Policy Goal #2 commits the region to develop, implement and maintain an interconnected transportation system that embraces quality of life and economic vitality for the region, and specifically promotes a "healthy regional core".

(e) Key transportation improvements in the Washington Metropolitan Region, including adequate support for public transit and the enhancement of the regional road network, are interstate in nature and will require cooperation among officials from each of the Region's three jurisdictions.

(f) Legislation is pending in Congress to improve regional cooperation among the three jurisdictions on regional transportation issues.

(g) Virginia has named ten members of the Virginia General Assembly and Virginia's Secretary of Transportation to a Tri-Jurisdiction Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation, and the Maryland General Assembly is in the process of identifying members of their General Assembly along with their Secretary of Transportation to participate in the Commission.

(h) The Washington Metropolitan Region needs regional transportation solutions to its regional transportation problems. Significant and meaningful transportation improvements in the region will require the highest degree of cooperation between leaders in Maryland, Virginia, and the District. The transportation dialogue must focus on regional approaches to solving traffic gridlock, expanded investment in mass transit, and development of land use guidelines and policies that complement our transportation plans rather than exacerbate our transportation problems.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 warrant the participation of the District in the Tri-Jurisdiction Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation. The Commission shall advise the Council and the Mayor on efforts to address interstate transportation issues in the Washington Metropolitan Region.

Sec. 4. The Chairman of the Council shall appoint up to ten representatives to the Commission, who shall include the District's representatives to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the District's representatives to the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, and the Director of the D.C. Office of Transportation.

Sec. 5(a) Members of the Commission shall work cooperatively to identify barriers to and opportunities for improved transportation links between Virginia and Maryland and the District of Columbia, including, but not limited to, new or expanded transit services.

(b) The Commission shall avoid duplication of effort with existing public bodies, such as the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board. In addition, the co-chairman of the Commission may appoint a public advisory committee comprised of representatives of area local governments, local chambers of commerce and related business groups, AAA Potomac, citizens associations, and environmental organizations.

(c) The Council accepts the offer from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board to provide staff support to the commission, including logistic and meeting space at its offices which are centrally located in the District of Columbia. The District's Department of Public Works is committed to provide technical assistance for the study on behalf of the Council and will work cooperatively with the Virginia Division of Legislative Services and the appropriate agency of the State of Maryland in this joint effort.

(d) The Commission shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the executive and the legislature of each of the three jurisdictions.

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.