Legislative Program

Each year, the RRPDC adopts a legislative agenda to guide staff on legislative issues during the following year. The RRPDC Board will often add or remove issues from the legislative agenda throughout the year as appropriate.

On November 10, 2011, the RRPDC Board unanimously adopted the 2012 RRPDC Regional Legislative Agenda.

2012 RRPDC Regional Legislative Agenda (download text doc)
2011 RRPDC Regional Legislative Agenda (download brochure)

State Legislative Priorities

These State Legislative Priorities are the specific actions the RRPDC is asking of the executive and legislative branches of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The RRPDC is prepared to support efforts to accomplish these actions.

Commonwealth Transportation Board

Add a third urban at-large seat to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (see Va. Code Ann. § 33.1-2) and fill it with a resident of the Richmond-Petersburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Update the archaic definitions of urban and rural used for appointing at-large members to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (see Va. Code Ann. § 33.1-2) by replacing outdated “standard metropolitan statistical areas” language with “metropolitan planning areas with population greater than 200,000.”

Passenger Rail

Fund passenger rail operations by establishing a permanent source of funding for the Intercity Passenger Rail Fund.

Increase funding for the Rail Enhancement Fund, then use the funds for capital improvements to the Richmond Region’s passenger rail network.

Watershed Improvement

Fund local watershed improvement programs and provide funding to jurisdictions to implement Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan designed to reach the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load goals.

Federal Legislative Priorities

These Federal Legislative Priorities are the specific actions the RRPDC is asking of the legislative and executive branches of the United States of America. The RRPDC is prepared to support efforts to accomplish these actions.

Public Infrastructure Investment

Allow rehabilitation expenditures for public school buildings to qualify for the federal rehabilitation tax credit. Current federal law allows for tax credits when a historic school is rehabilitated and used by another entity, but not where the buildings are reused as public schools.

Urban Area Security Initiative

Protect the national security and emergency preparedness interests of Central Virginia by continuing funding for the Central Virginia Urban Area Security Initiative.