reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 33.2-284 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-284. General powers of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation

The Department of Rail and Public Transportation has the following general powers:1. To accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source. To these ends, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation has the power to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient or desirable;2. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter, including contracts with the United States government, other states, agencies and governmental subdivisions of Virginia, and other appropriate public and private entities;3. To assist other appropriate entities, public or private, in the implementation and improvement of passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation services and the retention of rail corridors for public purposes;4. To represent and promote the Commonwealth's interests in passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation; and5. To acquire and hold title to the land necessary to construct railway lines in order to reduce traffic congestion on highways and shift traffic to rail transportation and acquire by any means whatsoever, lease, improve, and construct railway lines, passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation facilities, and passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation equipment determined to be for the common good of the Commonwealth or a region of the Commonwealth and assist other appropriate entities in the implementation and improvement of passenger and freight rail, transportation demand management, ridesharing, and public transportation services and the retention of rail corridors for public purposes.1992, c. 167, § 33.1-391.4; 2002, c. 355; 2013, c. 211; 2014, c. 805.
VA Code § 33.2-286 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-286. Urban transit agency strategic plans

A. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall develop guidelines, subject to the approval of the Board, for the development of strategic plans for transit agencies that (i) serve an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more and (ii) have a bus fleet consisting of at least 20 buses.B. As a condition of receiving funds from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund, any transit agency that meets the criteria of subsection A shall develop, and update at least once every five years, a strategic plan using the guidelines approved by the Board.C. The guidelines shall require the following:1. An assessment of state of good repair needs;2. A review of the performance of fixed-route bus service, including schedules, route design, connectivity, and vehicle sizes;3. An evaluation of opportunities to improve operating efficiency of the transit network, including reliability of trips and travel speed;4. An examination and identification of opportunities to share services where multiple transit providers' services overlap; and5. An examination of opportunities to improve service in underserved areas.D. In addition to developing and updating a strategic plan pursuant to this section, in all planning districts with transit systems collectively serving population areas of not less than 1.5 million nor more than 2 million, such transit systems shall develop a regional transit planning process coordinated by the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization. Such planning process shall include the identification and prioritization of projects, the establishment of performance benchmarks that incorporate state and federal requirements, the development and implementation of a regional subsidy allocation model, and the distribution of funds solely designated for transit and rail and that are administered by a regional body authorized by this Code to enter into agreements for the operation and maintenance of transit and rail facilities.2018, cc. 854, 856.
VA Code § 33.2-287 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-287. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:"Authority" means the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority."Board" means the Board of Directors of the Authority."Bonds" means the revenue notes, bonds, certificates, and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations of the Authority."Cost" means, as applied to rail facilities, (i) the cost of construction; (ii) the cost of acquisition of all lands, structures, fixtures, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other property rights and interests; (iii) the cost of demolishing, removing, or relocating any buildings, structures, or fixtures on lands acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings, structures, or fixtures may be moved or relocated; (iv) the cost of all labor, materials, machinery, and equipment; (v) financing charges and interest on all bonds prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; (vi) the cost of engineering, financial, and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, and other expenses incidental to determining the feasibility of acquiring, constructing, operating, or maintaining rail facilities; (vii) administrative expenses, provisions for working capital, and reserves for interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions, and improvements; and (viii) such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the acquisition, construction, financing, operations, and maintenance of rail facilities. Any obligation or expense incurred by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof for studies, surveys, borings, preparation of plans, and specification or other work or materials in the acquisition or construction of rail facilities may be regarded as a part of the cost of rail facilities and may be reimbursed to the Commonwealth or any agency thereof out of the proceeds of the bonds issued for such rail facilities as herein authorized."Department" means the Department of Rail and Public Transportation."Rail facilities" means the assets consisting of the real, personal, or mixed property, or any interest in that property, whether tangible or intangible, that are determined to be necessary or convenient for the provision of passenger rail service. "Rail facilities" includes all property or interests necessary or convenient for the acquiring, providing, using, equipping, or maintaining of a rail facility or system, including right-of-way, trackwork, train controls, stations, and maintenance facilities."Transportation Board" means the Commonwealth Transportation Board.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-288 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-288. Declaration of public purpose; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

A. The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is the policy of the Commonwealth to improve, identify, encourage, and promote new approaches to economic development throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) passenger rail travel and services are integral to the economic development and expansion of the Commonwealth's economy; and (iii) there exists in the Commonwealth a need to increase passenger rail capacity in the Commonwealth and improve passenger rail services.B. In order to increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail services, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways, and promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth, there is hereby created a body corporate and political subdivision of the Commonwealth to be known as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The Authority is hereby constituted as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise of powers conferred by this article shall be deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired.C. The purpose of the Authority shall be to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth and to increase ridership of such service by connecting population centers with passenger and commuter rail service and increasing availability of such service.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-290 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-290. Executive Director; agents and employees

A. The Board shall employ an Executive Director of the Authority, who shall not be a member of the Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, to direct the day-to-day operations and activities of the Authority and carry out the powers and duties conferred upon him as may be delegated to him by the Board. The Executive Director's compensation from the Commonwealth shall be fixed by the Board in accordance with law. This compensation shall be established at a level that will enable the Authority to attract and retain a capable Executive Director.B. The Executive Director shall employ or retain such other agents or employees subordinate to the Executive Director as may be necessary, subject to the Board's approval.C. Employees of the Authority shall be employed on such terms and conditions as established by the Authority and shall be considered employees of the Commonwealth. Employees of the Authority shall be eligible for membership in the Virginia Retirement System or other retirement plans authorized by Article 4 (§ 51.1-125 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 51.1 and participation in all health and related insurance and other benefits, including premium coverage and flexible benefits, available to state employees and provided by law. The Board shall develop and adopt personnel rules, policies, and procedures to give its employees grievance rights, ensure that employment decisions shall be based upon merit and fitness of applicants, and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Board shall develop, implement, and administer a paid leave program, which may include annual, personal, and sick leave or any combination thereof. All other leave benefits shall be administered in accordance with Chapter 11 (§ 51.1-1100 et seq.) or Chapter 11.1 (§ 51.1-1150 et seq.) of Title 51.1, except as otherwise provided in this section.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-291 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-291. Local authorities subordinate to Authority

Any conflict between any authority granted to localities or other entities of the Commonwealth, other than the Transportation Board and the Department, with respect to the ownership or use of rail facilities or the provision of passenger rail service, or the exercise of that authority, and the exercise of the authority granted by the Board under this article shall be resolved in favor of the exercise of such authority by the Board. Rights-of-way transferred to the Authority from a railroad shall not be subject to the requirements of any local ordinances enacted pursuant to Chapter 22 (§ 15.2-2200 et seq.) of Title 15.2.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-295 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-295. Deposit and investment of funds

Bonds issued by the Authority under the provisions of this article are hereby made securities in which all public officers and public bodies of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, and all insurance companies, trust companies, banking associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, trustees, and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are hereby made securities that may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state or municipal officer or any agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations of the Commonwealth is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-296 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-296. Revenues of the Authority

All moneys received by the Authority pursuant to this article including, without limitation, moneys received from the Commonwealth Rail Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-1526.4, whether as proceeds from the sale of bonds or as revenues, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this article. The resolution authorizing the bonds of any issue or the trust indenture or agreement or resolution securing such bonds shall provide that any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, such moneys shall be deposited shall act as a trustee of such moneys and shall hold and apply the same for the purposes hereof, subject to such regulations as this article and such trust indenture or agreement or resolution may provide.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-297 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-297. Moneys of Authority

All moneys of the Authority, from whatever source derived, shall be paid to the treasurer of the Authority. Such moneys shall be deposited in the first instance by the treasurer in one or more banks or trust companies, in one or more special accounts. All banks and trust companies are authorized to give such security for such deposits, if required by the Authority. The moneys in such accounts shall be paid out on the warrant or other order of such person or persons as the Authority may authorize to execute such warrants or orders.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-298 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-298. Annual budget

The Authority shall prepare and submit a detailed annual operating plan and budget to the Transportation Board by February 1 of each fiscal year. The Authority shall also prepare and submit for approval any proposed capital expenditures and projects for the following fiscal year to the Transportation Board by February 1. The Transportation Board shall have until May 30 to approve or deny any capital expenditures, and, in the event the Transportation Board has not approved or denied the Authority's proposed capital expenditures by such deadline, such expenditures shall be deemed approved. The operating plan and budget shall be in a form prescribed by the Transportation Board and shall include information on expenditures, indebtedness, and other information as prescribed by the Transportation Board.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299. Recordkeeping; audits

A. The accounts and records of the Authority showing the receipt and disbursement of funds from whatever source derived shall be in a form prescribed by governmental generally accepted accounting principles. Such accounts shall correspond as nearly as possible to the accounts and records for such matters maintained by enterprises.B. The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by a certified public accounting firm selected by the Auditor of Public Accounts with the assistance of the Authority through a process of competitive negotiation. The cost of such audit and review shall be borne by the Authority.C. The Authority shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 1 of each year. Such report shall contain the audited financial statements of the Authority for the fiscal year ending the preceding June 30.D. The Board, the General Assembly, or the Governor may at any time request that the Office of the State Inspector General, created pursuant to § 2.2-308, review any area of the Authority's finances or operations.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.1. Exemption of Authority from personnel and procurement procedures

The provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) and the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) shall not apply to the Authority in the exercise of any power conferred under this article. The Authority shall develop and adopt rules governing their procurement procedures. However, such rules adopted for the procurement of professional services with a cost expected to exceed $80,000 shall be consistent with the provisions of §§ 2.2-4302.2, 2.2-4303.1 and 2.2-4303.2. The initial rules shall be adopted by the Board no later than six months after the first meeting of the Board.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.2 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.2. Police powers; Authority rules and regulations

The Authority is empowered to adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing any and all activities using Authority property. Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law after publication one time in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city where the affected property is located.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.3 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.3. Governmental function; exemption from taxation

The exercise of the powers granted by this article will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and as the operation and maintenance of rail facilities by the Authority and the undertaking of activities in the furtherance of the purposes of the Authority will constitute the performance of the essential governmental functions, the Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any rail facilities or any property acquired or used by the Authority under the provisions of this article or upon the income therefrom, including sales and use taxes on the tangible personal property used in the operations of the Authority. The exemption hereby granted shall not be construed to extend to persons conducting on the premises of any rail facility businesses for which local or state taxes would otherwise be required.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.4 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.4. Cooperation with federal agencies

The Authority is empowered to cooperate with, and act as an agent for, the United States or any agency, department, corporation, or instrumentality thereof in the maintenance, development, improvement, and use of rail facilities of the Commonwealth and in any other matter within the purposes, duties, and powers of the Authority.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.5 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.5. Continuing responsibilities of the Transportation Board and the Department

The Transportation Board and the Department shall cooperate and assist the Authority in the accomplishment of its purposes as set forth in § 33.2-288.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.6 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.6. Dissolution of Authority

Whenever the Board determines that the purposes for which it was created have been substantially fulfilled or are impractical or impossible to accomplish and that all bonds theretofore issued and all other obligations therefore incurred by the Authority have been paid or that cash or a sufficient amount of United States government securities has been deposited for their payment, and upon the approval of the Governor and the General Assembly, the Board may adopt resolutions or ordinances declaring and finding that the Authority should be dissolved and that appropriate articles of dissolution shall be filed with the State Corporation Commission. Upon the filing of such articles of dissolution by the Authority, such dissolution shall become effective and the title to all funds and other property owned by the Authority at the time of such filing shall vest in the Department.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.
VA Code § 33.2-299.7 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems|Chapter 2 - Transportation Entities|§ 33.2-299.7. Exclusions from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; proprietary records and trade secrets

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), the Authority shall keep confidential trade secrets or confidential proprietary information, not publicly available, provided by a private person or entity pursuant to a promise of confidentiality where if such information were made public, the financial interest of the private person or entity could be adversely affected. In order for trade secrets or proprietary information to be excluded from the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the private person or entity shall (i) invoke such exclusion upon submission of the data or other materials for which protection from disclosure is sought, (ii) identify the data or other materials for which protection is sought, and (iii) state the reason why protection is necessary.B. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Authority shall keep confidential information submitted by a private person, entity, or other party in negotiations with the Authority, where if such information was made public prior to the execution of a business arrangement, the financial interests of bargaining positions of the public or private entity would be adversely affected.2020, cc. 1230, 1275.