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Subcommittee carries HB 1615 — a petition-triggered noise-analysis bill — for one day after questions from VDOT
Summary
HB 1615, which would require VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board to begin a noise analysis within one year of a valid petition and make analyses public, was carried for the day after VDOT raised resource and implementation concerns; the motion to pass by for the day passed with an affirmative voice tally recorded.
The Transportation Infrastructure and Funding Subcommittee carried House Bill 1615 for the day after VDOT raised concerns about resources and implementation.
Delegate Baggins, the bill's sponsor, said HB 1615 would require the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the Virginia Department of Transportation to begin a noise analysis within one year of receiving a valid petition and to conduct a review for potential retrofit noise-abatement projects, with results posted publicly. Baggins said the bill would not obligate the Commonwealth to provide state construction funds: “This bill would not mandate the Commonwealth to utilize any state funds to initiate a construction project,” and an amendment inserted language clarifying that successful completion of a state-funded noise analysis would not require dedication of state construction funds.
VDOT's representative, Angel Deem, told the panel the department opposes the bill in its introduced form because it would require studies outside of established project-based triggers, create a new retrofit program without an implementation pathway, and impose additional administrative burdens to post studies to the department's website. Deem said the department performs noise analyses for identified and funded projects and estimated that the average noise analysis costs about $500,000. Deem noted federal participation is possible for some programs, but state resources would be needed to perform studies and establish a retrofit program.
After additional questions and a clarifying motion, Delegate Reid moved to "pass by for the day" to allow time to address VDOT's concerns; the motion was seconded and the roll indicated an affirmative tally (the clerk recorded multiple aye votes and announced the bill "passes by for the day"). The transcript records the chair clarifying that the motion was to pass by for the day (not indefinitely) and the clerk announced the motion carried.
