Governor Warner Establishes Commission on Transportation in Urbanized Areas

Governor Warner Establishes Commission on Transportation in Urbanized Areas

— Study Commission to report back by December 31 —

Governor Mark R. Warner today named a Transportation in Urbanized Areas Study Commission created by executive directive (read the directive, pdf 116K). The Commission will recommend strategies for better integrating planning and transit options in Virginia's urbanized areas.

"We've worked to dramatically improve VDOT's on-time and on-budget statistics, clean up our books, and find innovative new ways to keep traffic moving," said Governor Warner. "But the next step is clearly to help ensure quality development and redevelopment of our urban areas. This will require better transit and transportation solutions, and must be looked at from the state and regional level."

The purpose of the Commission is to:

* establish a statewide framework for high quality urban transportation solutions;
* identify obstacles to better transit, including inappropriate or outdated policies or programs;
* identify long-term fiscal and energy savings through the promotion of mass transit-oriented development;
* identify potential legislation, regulations, and incentive programs to support transit-oriented development in Virginia; and
* evaluate existing regional land use studies to promote quality development and redevelopment.

The Commission consists of 17 members, including local elected officials, local government managers, academic experts, business people, and citizens.

* The Honorable W. Randy Wright, serving as Chairman of the Commission, Norfolk, President & CEO of Randy Wright Printing Company and Member of Norfolk City Council;
* The Honorable Charles C. Allen, FAICP, Newport News, Vice-Mayor, Newport News City Council;
* The Honorable Edward B. Barber, Chesterfield, Chair, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors;
* The Honorable Viola O. Baskerville, Richmond, Member, House of Delegates;
* The Honorable Bertram F. Dodson Jr., Lynchburg, President & CEO of Dodson Bros. Exterminating Company and Member of Lynchburg City Council;
* John H. Foote, Manassas, Partner, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich, and Terpak P.C.;
* J. Edward Grimsley, Richmond, Retired Chairman of the Editorial Board for the Richmond Times Dispatch;
* Wilson M. Goode, Portsmouth, President of Goode Construction Inc. and New Millenium Developers, LLC;
* The Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Roanoke, Member, Roanoke City Council;
* Michael S. Townes, Hampton, President & CEO of Hampton Roads Transit;
* Lois L. Walker, Alexandria, President, Vital Public Spaces, Co-Founder of the Potomac West Business Alliance;
* James A. Wilding, Glenwood, Maryland, Retired President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority;
* Walter W. Wise, Jr., Oakton, General Treasurer, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers;
* The Honorable Philip J. Kellam, Virginia Beach, Commissioner of the Revenue;
* The Honorable Scott York, Sterling, Chairman, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors;
* The Honorable Christopher Zimmerman, Arlington, Vice Chair, Arlington County Board; and
* Daniel Gecker, Richmond, Partner, Urban Development Association.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Oct05/1018c.htm