Commonwealth Transportation Board; Board to develop statewide plan.
The bill emphasizes the importance of a risk-based assessment to identify and evaluate the vulnerabilities of various transportation assets and systems in Virginia. It intends to assess risks related to weather events, such as storms and flooding, alongside long-term concerns like sea level rise and extreme temperatures. By prioritizing projects that can be funded through competitive grants, HB992 seeks to fortify the state's transportation systems against future challenges, potentially influencing the allocation of state resources towards more resilient infrastructure.
House Bill 992 mandates the Commonwealth Transportation Board, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation, to create a comprehensive statewide plan for the allocation of transportation funds derived from the PROTECT grant program. This initiative aligns with federal guidelines established through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aiming to enhance Virginia's capacity to address transportation network vulnerabilities caused by severe weather and other natural disasters. The plan must be developed within 60 days post-enactment or upon receiving federal guidance.
While the bill focuses on improving transportation resilience, there's potential for contention regarding the prioritization of which projects will be presented for funding. Stakeholders might have differing views on the types of projects that should receive funding emphasis—some may argue for prioritizing urban areas, while others might advocate for rural infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the efficiency of the risk-based assessments could be debated, particularly in the context of available data and the methodologies employed to evaluate vulnerabilities.